How to say "dirt" in Japanese

• 土つちJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounCovers dirt in its most literal sense: earth and soil, the stuff of the ground. Choose it when talking about soil in a garden, dirt on shoes, or digging in the earth.
  農家のうかの人ひと達たちは鋤すきで土つちを耕たがやす。↗

  Farmers turn up the soil with plows.
• 汚れよごれCommon
  nounDirt as soiling or staining on things — the grime you wash or wipe off clothes, floors, and surfaces. Use it for dirt that marks an object, as opposed to soil from the ground.
  汚よごれに強つよい合成皮革ごうせいひかくを使用しようした２人ふたり掛かけのソファです。↗

  This is a two-seater sofa using stain-resistant artificial leather.
• 垢あかJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounGrime that builds up on the body, such as the film scrubbed off in the bath. Its 'dirt' sense is this bodily grime rather than dirt on objects or the ground.
  いつもあかだらけで、食事しょくじも満足まんぞくに与あたえられていない様子ようすでした。↗

  He was always filthy and looked like he wasn't given enough food.
• 汚物おぶつCommon
  nounSeldom the word you want for ordinary dirt: it means filth or waste, especially excrement, and sounds harsh or clinical. Reserve it for sewage, refuse, and other genuinely disgusting matter.
  水みずの淀よどむ所ところには汚物おぶつが溜たまる。↗

  Standing pools gather filth.
• 塵ちりCommon
  nounDust and fine particles of dirt — the specks you sweep or wipe away — and, in another sense, litter or rubbish. For 'dirt' it is usually this dusty, powdery kind, not soil or stains.

Use 土 for literal earth or soil, 「汚れ」 for grime or stains on things, 垢 for grime that builds up on the body, 塵 for dust and fine particles, and avoid 汚物 unless you mean filth or waste.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 土つちearth
• 汚れよごれdirt
• 垢あかdirt
• 汚物おぶつfilth (esp. excrement, feces, urine)
• くすみdullness (esp. of the skin)
• ダートdirt (road, path, etc.)
• 塵埃じんあいdust
• 煙塵えんじんsmoke and dust
• 芥あくたrubbish
• 泥どろmud
• 塵ちりtrash
• 土どearth
• ソイルdirt
• 汚穢おわいmuck