陶器(とうき)

とうき
noun
pottery; ceramics; earthenware
art
1. pottery; ceramics; earthenware
Vessels and objects made from clay and fired in a kiln. In the strict sense, refers to earthenware (fired at lower temperatures, somewhat porous) as opposed to porcelain (磁器), but in common usage can refer to ceramics in general.
この陶器(とうき)は手作(てづく)りだ。
This pottery is handmade.
陶器(とうき)市(いち)で気(き)に入(い)った茶碗(ちゃわん)を買(か)った。
I bought a rice bowl I liked at the pottery market.
日本(にほん)には有田焼(ありたやき)や備前焼(びぜんやき)など有名(ゆうめい)な陶器(とうき)の産地(さんち)がたくさんある。
Japan has many famous pottery production areas, such as Arita ware and Bizen ware.

Compound of 陶(とう) (pottery/clay) + 器(き) (vessel/utensil).

Strictly speaking, 陶器(とうき) (earthenware) and 磁器(じき) (porcelain) are different: 陶器(とうき) is fired at lower temperatures and has a warmer, rougher texture, while 磁器(じき) is fired at higher temperatures and is smooth and translucent. Together they are called 陶磁器(とうじき).

Common collocations

  • 陶器(とうき)市(いち) (pottery market/fair)
  • 陶器(とうき)の皿(さら) (ceramic plate)
  • 陶器(とうき)を焼(や)く (to fire pottery)

Famous Japanese pottery styles include 有田焼(ありたやき), 瀬戸焼(せとやき), 備前焼(びぜんやき), and 益子焼(ましこやき).

Related Words

Compare: 磁器(じき) (porcelain (higher temperature))
Compare: 土器(どき) (earthenware)
Related: 陶芸家(とうげいか) (ceramist)
Related: 釉薬(ゆうやく) (glaze (ceramics))
Compare: 和食器(わしょっき) (Japanese-style tableware)
Compare: セラミック (ceramic)
general
Added 2026.3.2 15:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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