タバコ Tobacco

Meaning

Primary

Tobacco

Alternative

Cigarette

Word Type

noun

Explanation

タバコ is the Japanese version of the Portuguese word "tabaco." You probably won’t be shocked to learn that タバコ means tobacco or cigarette in English!

Watch out for the first syllable, which is タ and not ト. タバコ can also be written in hiragana, and even in kanji, but katakana is the most common by far.

Pronunciation

タバコ

Context

Common Word Combinations

• タバコを〜

  タバコをやめる

  to quit smoking

  タバコをふかす

  to smoke a cigarette

  タバコを買う

  to buy cigarettes

• タバコの〜

  タバコの先

  the tip of a cigarette

  タバコの火

  cigarette lighter

  タバコのにおい

  the smell of cigarettes

• 〜タバコ

  パイプタバコ

  pipe tobacco

  電子タバコ

  an electronic cigarette

  歩きタバコ

  smoking while walking

Context Sentences

あ、タバコのにおいがする。

Oh, I can smell cigarette smoke.

タバコが中々やめられないんだ。

I've been struggling to quit smoking.

歩きタバコはよくないよ。

It's not good to smoke while walking.