空気(くうき)

くうき
noun
air, atmosphere
1. air
The invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth.
山(やま)の空気(くうき)は新鮮(しんせん)だ。
The mountain air is fresh.
部屋(へや)の空気(くうき)が悪(わる)い。
The air in the room is bad.
窓(まど)を開(あ)けて空気(くうき)を入(い)れ替(か)えよう。
Let's open the window and air out the room.
2. atmosphere, mood
The pervading tone or mood of a place or situation.
空気(くうき)を読(よ)んでください。
Please read the room.
Important Japanese cultural concept
会議(かいぎ)の空気(くうき)が重(おも)かった。
The atmosphere at the meeting was tense.
あの人(ひと)はいつも空気(くうき)が読(よ)めないから、みんな困(こま)っている。
That person can never read the room, so everyone has a hard time.

空気(くうき) has both a physical meaning (air) and an abstract meaning (atmosphere, mood).

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 空気(くうき)を読(よ)む: to read the room (sense unspoken mood)
  • 空気(くうき)を入(い)れ替(か)える: to air out (a room)
  • 空気(くうき)が悪(わる)い: the air is bad / the atmosphere is awkward
  • 空気(くうき)が重(おも)い: heavy atmosphere (tense)

CULTURAL NOTE:
空気(くうき)を読(よ)む is an important Japanese concept. Someone who fails to read the room may be called KY (空気(くうき)が読(よ)めない, can't read the air).

RELATED:

  • 雰囲気(ふんいき): atmosphere, ambiance (more for places/settings)
  • 大気(たいき): atmosphere (scientific/meteorological)
general
Added 2026.1.8 21:11 · Revised 2026.2.15 13:59
01000/01390_kuuki