also: おあい · あえ · わえ · おかい
night soil; human waste used as fertilizer
Historical term for human excrement collected for agricultural use. Now largely obsolete in everyday language, but may appear in historical or literary contexts.
In the Edo period, night soil was used as fertilizer.
General term for foul dirt or filth; literary and old-fashioned. In modern Japanese, 汚れ or 不潔 is more common.
The alley was covered in filth.
night soil collector
Literary kanji compound; rarely used in modern writing. The reading おわい is the most common modern pronunciation.
Kana spelling for the common reading; practical for learners.
Alternate reading; less common than おわい.
Obsolete kana usage; included for historical reference.
Obsolete kana usage; included for historical reference.
Obsolete kana usage; included for historical reference.
Compound of 汚 (dirty) and 穢 (filth), both kanji with similar meanings. The word is of Chinese origin (Sino-Japanese) and has been used historically in formal or literary contexts.