1.
soot; black residue from incomplete combustion
The fine black particles that deposit on surfaces from smoke, especially from wood fires, candles, or exhaust. A common byproduct of traditional Japanese hearths and stoves.
Written in kanji as 煤, but hiragana is the standard form in modern usage. Soot was a familiar substance in traditional Japanese homes that used 囲炉裏 (open hearths) and 竈 (cooking stoves).
Cultural note
すす払い (soot sweeping) is a traditional year-end cleaning custom, originally performed at temples and shrines on December 13th. It marks the beginning of preparations for the New Year.
Common collocations
- すすが付く — soot collects
- すすを払う — to sweep away soot
- すす払い — year-end soot sweeping (cleaning ritual)
- すすだらけ — covered in soot
- すすけた — sooty, smoke-stained