JLPT · Level 182
15 words
Japanese word
垢
Pronunciation
Romajiaka
Meaning
- noundirt
Example
肌の垢をやさしく落とします。hada no aka o ya sa shi ku o to shi ma su
I gently remove dirt from my skin.
More examples
汗をかいた日は、首に垢がたまりやすいです。ase o ka i ta hi wa kubi ni aka ga ta ma ri ya su i de su
On days when I sweat, dirt tends to build up on my neck.
Core concept
Expresses the buildup of bodily grime that washing or scrubbing removes from the skin.
Common phrases
垢を落とすaka o o to su
remove dirt
肌の垢hada no aka
dirt on the skin
垢がたまるaka ga ta ma ru
dirt builds up
Similar words
汚れyogore: Unwanted material or marks on a person or surface that make it unclean.
Definition in Japanese
身体の表面に付着してたまる汚れ。shin tai no hyō men ni fu chaku shi te ta ma ru yogo re
Word origin
The word 垢 (aka, "dirt") comes from the native Japanese vocabulary; the kanji 垢 serves as a meaning-based written form for this noncompound noun.
Usage tips
- Japanese uses 垢抜ける (akanukeru) for a person or style that has become polished and sophisticated, not merely clean.
Other meanings
- grimenoun
- filthnoun