Translation guide
In Japanese, the most common word for firewood is 薪 (まき). There are also related terms for kindling, split logs, and poetic expressions.
Wood used as fuel for a fire, especially in a stove, fireplace, or campfire.
The standard word for firewood. Refers to wood cut and prepared for burning.
We prepared a lot of firewood for the winter.
キャンプで薪を拾ってきた。
We gathered firewood at the camp.
Literally 'burning wood', often used interchangeably with 薪 but can emphasize the act of burning or wood gathered for a fire.
山で焚き木を集める。
Gather firewood in the mountains.
Small pieces of wood used to start a fire.
Kindling; small sticks or shavings used to ignite larger firewood.
まず焚き付けに火をつけてください。
First, light the kindling.
Small twigs or branches, often used as kindling.
Logs that have been split with an axe, often for efficient burning.
Split firewood; logs that have been chopped into smaller pieces.
割り木をストーブに入れた。
I put split firewood into the stove.
The action of splitting firewood.
彼は毎朝薪を割る。
He splits firewood every morning.
A more literary or classical term for firewood, often used in poetry or traditional contexts.
An alternative kanji form of 焚き木, sometimes used in literary or poetic writing.
たき木を背負って山道を歩く。
Walking along a mountain path carrying firewood on one's back.
薪 (まき) is the most common and neutral term for firewood. 焚き木 (たきぎ) is also common but can emphasize the wood's purpose for burning or the act of gathering it. In everyday conversation, 薪 is usually preferred.
Firewood is often counted using the counter 束 (たば) for bundles, or 本 (ほん) for individual logs. For example, 薪一束 (まきひとたば) means 'one bundle of firewood'.
We gathered twigs and started a campfire.