煙幕(えんまく)

えんまく
noun
smokescreen
1. smokescreen (military)
A cloud of smoke released to conceal military movements or positions from the enemy.
軍(ぐん)は煙幕(えんまく)を張(は)って撤退(てったい)した。
The army retreated under cover of a smokescreen.
煙幕(えんまく)で視界(しかい)が遮(さえぎ)られ、敵(てき)の動(うご)きが見(み)えなくなった。
The smokescreen blocked the view, making it impossible to see the enemy's movements.
上陸(じょうりく)作戦(さくせん)の際(さい)、艦隊(かんたい)は煙幕(えんまく)を張(は)って部隊(ぶたい)の接近(せっきん)を隠(かく)した。
During the landing operation, the fleet laid a smokescreen to conceal the approach of the troops.
2. smokescreen (figurative), diversion, cover-up
Something designed to hide the truth or distract attention from the real issue.
あの発言(はつげん)は煙幕(えんまく)にすぎない。
That statement is nothing but a smokescreen.
政府(せいふ)は煙幕(えんまく)を張(は)って本当(ほんとう)の問題(もんだい)から目(め)をそらそうとしている。
The government is putting up a smokescreen to divert attention from the real issue.
彼(かれ)は巧(たく)みに煙幕(えんまく)を張(は)り、自分(じぶん)の関与(かんよ)を隠(かく)し通(とお)した。
He skillfully put up a smokescreen and managed to conceal his involvement.

煙幕(えんまく) literally means "smoke curtain." The figurative sense (diversion, cover-up) is far more common in modern usage than the military sense.

Common collocations

  • 煙幕(えんまく)を張(は)る (to put up a smokescreen — literal or figurative)
  • 煙幕(えんまく)にすぎない (nothing but a smokescreen)
  • 煙幕(えんまく)で隠(かく)す (to hide with a smokescreen)
  • 煙幕(えんまく)弾(だん) (smoke grenade — military)

Usage

In politics, business, and daily life, 煙幕(えんまく)を張(は)る means to create a distraction to conceal the real issue. This is the sense learners will encounter most often in news and conversation.

Etymology

From 煙(えん) (smoke) + 幕(まく) (curtain/screen). Originally a military term for smoke deployed to hide troop movements.

Similar words

  • 目(め)くらまし: diversion, distraction
  • ごまかす: to deceive, to cover up
general
Added 2026.2.24 20:45 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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