1.
ventilation; air passage; air circulation
The (typically passive) flow of air through a space, garment, or piece of equipment. 通気 emphasizes that air can pass through — for example, a room where air moves freely, fabric that breathes, or vents in a building's structure. Less active than 換気, which refers to deliberately exchanging stale air for fresh air.
通気が悪い。
The airflow is poor.
この部屋は通気性が良い。
This room has good airflow.
夏用の服は通気性を重視して選ぶといい。
It's good to choose summer clothes with breathability in mind.
床下に通気口を設けることで、湿気による建物の劣化を防ぐことができる。
By providing ventilation openings under the floor, you can prevent damage to the building from humidity.
通気 describes air being able to flow through a space or material. The most common compound by far is 通気性 ("breathability, ventilation properties"), used heavily in product descriptions for clothing, footwear, building materials, bedding, and bags.
FORMATION:
- 通 ("to pass through") + 気 ("air") → 通気
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 通気性: breathability, ventilation properties
- 通気口: vent, ventilation opening
- 通気孔: ventilation hole
- 通気が良い / 悪い: airflow is good / poor
- 通気管: vent pipe (plumbing)
- 通気を確保する: to ensure ventilation
SIMILAR / RELATED TERMS:
- 換気: ventilation in the sense of actively exchanging stale air for fresh air (e.g., opening a window, running a ventilation fan); more deliberate and active than 通気
- 通風: ventilation; airflow through a space (close to 通気, but 通風 more strongly suggests a draft moving through)
- 空調: HVAC (mechanical climate control system)
- 湿気: humidity, moisture
- 蒸れる: to become stuffy, to get sweaty (used of clothes/spaces lacking 通気性)
USAGE NOTES:
- 通気 is more about whether air can pass through than about anyone actively making it pass. A loose-weave shirt has good 通気性; opening a window for fresh air is 換気.
- In product copy, 通気性 is a major selling point for sportswear, work boots, summer suits, mattresses, and even smartphone cases — anywhere stale or moist air would cause discomfort or damage.
- For Japanese houses with raised wooden floors, 床下通気 ("under-floor ventilation") is critical to prevent rot from humidity, and is a standard feature of building specifications.