1.
incense; fragrant substance burned for its scent
Aromatic materials, typically in stick or cone form, burned to produce pleasant fragrance. Used in religious ceremonies, meditation, and as home fragrance.
お香を焚く。
To burn incense.
寝る前にお香を焚くとよく眠れる。
Burning incense before bed helps me sleep well.
祖母は毎朝仏壇の前でお香を焚いている。
My grandmother burns incense in front of the Buddhist altar every morning.
The polite prefix お is standard for this word; plain 香 is used in compounds but rarely alone in everyday speech.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- お香を焚く: to burn incense
- お香を供える: to offer incense
- お香の香り: the scent of incense
- 線香: stick incense
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
Incense has deep roots in Japanese culture, used in Buddhist ceremonies, tea ceremony, and the traditional art of 香道 (the Way of Incense). Modern use includes aromatherapy and home fragrance. Common types include 白檀 (sandalwood) and 沈香 (agarwood).
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 線香: stick incense — specifically the thin sticks used at altars and graves
- 香料: fragrance materials — broader term including perfumery ingredients
- アロマ: aroma — modern loanword for aromatherapy-style fragrance