also: たばこをすう
expression, godan verb (-u)
smoke a cigarette; smoke
Standard expression for smoking a cigarette or tobacco. The object タバコ can be omitted when context is clear.
彼は毎日タバコを吸う。
He smokes cigarettes every day.
ここでタバコを吸ってもいいですか。
Is it okay to smoke here?
Common mixed kanji-katakana spelling.
Full kanji spelling; less common but still seen.
Hiragana spelling for タバコ; natural in casual writing.
Formal noun meaning 'smoking'; used in official contexts like 喫煙所 (smoking area). タバコを吸う is the everyday verb phrase.
タバコ is from Portuguese 'tabaco'. 吸う is a native Japanese verb meaning 'to inhale' or 'to suck'.