Japanese word

錆

Pronunciation

Romajisabi

Meaning

  • nounrust

Example

鉄の門に錆がついています。tetsu no mon ni sabi ga tsu i te i ma su

There is rust on the iron gate.

Illustration for 錆 (rust)

More examples

自転車のチェーンに錆がつかないように、油をさします。ji ten sha no chē n ni sabi ga tsu ka na i yō ni abura o sa shi ma su

I apply oil to the bicycle chain to keep it from rusting.

Core concept

Refers to the flaky coating that forms when iron reacts with oxygen and moisture.

Common phrases

  • 錆がつくsabi ga tsu ku

    rust forms

  • 錆を落とすsabi o o to su

    remove rust

  • 錆を防ぐsabi o fuse gu

    prevent rust

  • 錆が広がるsabi ga hiro ga ru

    rust spreads

Similar words

錆びsabi: The state or process of developing a flaky coating through exposure to oxygen and moisture.

Definition in Japanese

鉄などの金属の表面に生じる赤褐色の腐食物。tetsu na do no kin zoku no hyō men ni shō ji ru seki katsu shoku no fu shoku butsu

Word origin

The noun 錆 (sabi, "rust") comes from the stem of 錆びる (sabiru, "to rust") and names the material produced by that process.

Usage tips

  • In English, rust works as both a noun and a verb, so it can name the material or describe the process of becoming rusty.

Related words

Word lists with this word