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煙を立てる (けむりをたてる) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
expression, ichidan verb
make a living ; earn a livelihood
idiomatic expression
Idiomatic expression literally meaning 'to raise smoke', used figuratively for managing to get by financially. Often implies a modest or precarious living.
どう
に
か
煙けむり
を
立た
てる
だけ
の
収しゅう
入にゅう
は
ある
。
I have just enough income to get by.
Similar words 生せい 計けい を 立た てる More direct and common expression for 'to make a living', without the figurative smoke imagery.
食く っていく Colloquial and informal way to say 'to earn a living', focusing on getting food on the table.
Etymology The phrase literally means 'to raise smoke', referring to the smoke from a cooking fire as a sign of household activity and sustenance. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it is a traditional metaphor for maintaining a livelihood.
