1.
kiln, furnace for firing ceramics
A high-temperature oven or furnace used for firing pottery, ceramics, bricks, or charcoal. Central to traditional Japanese pottery culture.
Usage
窯 specifically refers to a kiln for firing ceramics, bricks, or producing charcoal. Do not confuse with the homophone 釜 (cooking pot, kettle), which is a kitchen vessel.
Common collocations
- 窯で焼く: to fire in a kiln
- 窯を開く: to open a kiln (after firing)
- 登り窯: climbing kiln (traditional multi-chamber kiln built on a slope)
- 窯元: pottery workshop, kiln site
- 窯出し: removing pieces from the kiln after firing
Writing
The kanji 窯 contains the 穴 (hole) radical at the top, reflecting the kiln's structure. The bottom component 羊 + 火 suggests heating inside an enclosed space.