How to say "ventilation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 換気かんきnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbThe everyday word for ventilation as an act: letting fresh air in and stale air out of a room, as when you open the windows after cooking. Usually the word you want.
- 通気つうきnounVentilation understood as the flow or passage of air; it is at home in technical talk about airflow. For the household act of airing out a room, 換気 is the usual choice.
- 風通しかぜとおしnounHow freely air moves through a place; describes rooms and buildings as airy or stuffy. By extension it is also used of organizations where information and opinions circulate freely.
- 送風そうふうnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbVentilation in the mechanical sense: blowing or forcing air somewhere with a fan or blower, not airing out a room. For everyday ventilation this is seldom the word you want.
- 通風つうふうsuru verb, intransitive verb, no-adjectiveAir moving through a space as a current — sometimes a welcome breeze, sometimes an unwanted draft; it also covers the airing of a room. For deliberately ventilating, reach for 換気 instead.
Use 換気 for the everyday act of airing out a room; 通気 and 送風 for technical airflow and mechanical air supply; 「風通し」 for how airy a place is; 通風 for air currents, drafts, and airing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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