火口(かこう)

かこう
noun
crater (of volcano)
geography
1. crater; volcanic crater
The bowl-shaped opening at the top of a volcano from which lava and gases are ejected.
火口(かこう)から煙(けむり)が立(た)ち上(のぼ)っている。
Smoke is rising from the crater.
火口(かこう)付近(ふきん)への立(た)ち入(い)りは禁止(きんし)されている。
Entry to the area near the crater is prohibited.
火口(かこう)の直径(ちょっけい)は約(やく)300メートルある。
The crater has a diameter of about 300 meters.

Watch out

  • 下降(かこう) (descent, decline) has the same reading.
  • Read ひぐち, 火口(ひぐち) is a different word: the place where a fire started, or the opening where a fire is lit.

Related words

Note: Japan has many active volcanoes, making this term commonly seen in news and tourism contexts.

Related Words

Related: 火山(かざん) (volcano)
Compare: 下降(かこう) (descent (homophone))
Related: 溶岩(ようがん) (lava)
Related: 噴火(ふんか) (eruption)
Related: 噴煙(ふんえん) (volcanic smoke)
Compare: クレーター (crater)
general
Added 2026.1.13 19:53 · Revised 2026.10.4 22:03
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