塵じん埃あい

noun

dust; dirt

Refers to physical dust and dirt, often in a somewhat formal or literary context. The reading ちりほこり is rare and mostly found in older texts.

• 部屋へやの中なかに塵じん埃あいが積つもっていた。

  Dust had accumulated in the room.

• 掃そう除じ機きで床ゆかの塵じん埃あいを吸すい取とった。

  I vacuumed up the dust and dirt from the floor.

noun

dreary world; mundane affairs

Only with reading じんあい

Figurative use, restricted to the reading じんあい. Conveys the weariness of everyday life or the pettiness of worldly concerns. Often used in literary or philosophical contexts.

• 彼かれは塵じん埃あいにまみれた俗ぞく世せを離はなれ、山やまにこもった。

  He left the dreary, mundane world behind and secluded himself in the mountains.

• 日にち常じょうの塵じん埃あいから逃のがれて、静しずかな時じ間かんを過すごしたい。

  I want to escape from the petty affairs of everyday life and spend some quiet time.