湯垢(ゆあか)

ゆあか
noun
scale; limescale; bathtub scum
daily-life
1. scale; limescale; hard-water deposit
The whitish mineral deposit left by hot water inside kettles, pots, bathtubs, and water heaters. Also used for the film that builds up on the inside of a bath.
やかんに湯垢(ゆあか)がついた。
Scale has built up in the kettle.
風呂(ふろ)の湯垢(ゆあか)をこすって落(お)とす。
I scrub off the scum in the bathtub.
湯垢(ゆあか)はクエン酸(さん)を使(つか)うときれいに取(と)れる。
Limescale comes off nicely if you use citric acid.
毎日(まいにち)洗(あら)っていても、浴槽(よくそう)には少(すこ)しずつ湯垢(ゆあか)がたまっていく。
Even if you wash it every day, scum gradually builds up in the bathtub.

Formed from 湯(ゆ) (hot water) + 垢(あか) (grime, dirt). It refers to deposits left by the water itself, mostly minerals, rather than to body dirt.

Common collocations

  • 湯垢(ゆあか)がつく: scale forms
  • 湯垢(ゆあか)がたまる: scale builds up
  • 湯垢(ゆあか)を落(お)とす: to remove scale
  • 湯垢(ゆあか)取(と)り: scale remover (product)

Similar words

  • 水垢(みずあか): water stains — the same kind of deposit left by cold water, on sinks and faucets
  • 垢(あか): grime — the general word, including dirt from the skin

Related Words

Compare: 水垢(みずあか) (water stains)
general
Added 2026.8.6 0:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
30000/30416_yuaka