たばこ

たばこ means tobacco or cigarette. Can be written in hiragana, katakana (タバコ), or kanji (煙草(たばこ)).

ETYMOLOGY:
From Portuguese "tabaco."

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

• たばこを吸(す)う: to smoke
• たばこを止(や)める: to quit smoking
• たばこを買(か)う: to buy cigarettes

RELATED VOCABULARY:

• 喫煙(きつえん): smoking (formal term)
• 喫煙所(きつえんじょ): smoking area
• 禁煙(きんえん): no smoking
• 灰皿(はいざら): ashtray
• 電子(でんし)たばこ: e-cigarette

SOCIAL NOTE:
Smoking restrictions have increased in Japan. Many public spaces are now 禁煙(きんえん) (no smoking).