soot
Black powdery substance from smoke, often found in chimneys or on surfaces after a fire.
I clean the soot from the fireplace.
There is soot on the ceiling.
become sooty; get stained with soot
year-end soot sweeping; house cleaning to welcome New Year gods
Usually written in kana; the kanji 煤 is also used but less common.
Kanji form; less common than kana.
The origin is uncertain; the kanji 煤 is conventionally associated with soot.