1.
smokescreen (military)
A cloud of smoke released to conceal military movements or positions from the enemy.
軍は煙幕を張って撤退した。
The army retreated under cover of a smokescreen.
煙幕で視界が遮られ、敵の動きが見えなくなった。
The smokescreen blocked the view, making it impossible to see the enemy's movements.
上陸作戦の際、艦隊は煙幕を張って部隊の接近を隠した。
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.
あの発言は煙幕にすぎない。
That statement is nothing but a smokescreen.
政府は煙幕を張って本当の問題から目をそらそうとしている。
The government is putting up a smokescreen to divert attention from the real issue.
彼は巧みに煙幕を張り、自分の関与を隠し通した。
He skillfully put up a smokescreen and managed to conceal his involvement.
煙幕 literally means "smoke curtain." The figurative sense (diversion, cover-up) is far more common in modern usage than the military sense.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 煙幕を張る (to put up a smokescreen — literal or figurative)
- 煙幕にすぎない (nothing but a smokescreen)
- 煙幕で隠す (to hide with a smokescreen)
- 煙幕弾 (smoke grenade — military)
FIGURATIVE USAGE:
In politics, business, and daily life, 煙幕を張る 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 (smoke) + 幕 (curtain/screen). Originally a military term for smoke deployed to hide troop movements.
SIMILAR EXPRESSIONS:
- 目くらまし: diversion, distraction
- ごまかす: to deceive, to cover up