The Meaning of jōki [蒸気] In Japanese

蒸気
じょうき
Romaji: jōki N4

What does 蒸気 mean?

Translation and Meaning

steam, vapor

Definition

蒸気 means steam, the gaseous state of water produced when liquid water is heated; it describes the moist, invisible vapor as well as the visible cloud that rises from boiling water, and is used across science, industry, and cooking to denote this form of water.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Water vapor produced by heating water
  • Working fluid in steam engines, boilers, and turbines
  • Cooking method involving steam to heat food

Etymology

蒸 means to steam, heat with moisture; 気 means air, vapor. The word’s pronunciation in Japanese is jōki, a Sino-Japanese on’yomi derived from Chinese zhēng qì.

Origin

Meiji period (late 19th century) introduction into technical vocabulary as steam technology spread; used in compounds naming steam machinery.

Composition

  • 蒸: to steam, heat with moisture
  • 気: air, gas; vapor

Usage

Used in formal and technical contexts, especially science, engineering, and culinary instructions. In compounds it appears in terms like 蒸気機関, 蒸気船, and 蒸気調理; in casual speech it occurs mainly in educational or media contexts when discussing steam or steam-powered devices.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: Picture steam rising from a kettle as two elements—蒸 and 気—join to form a single phenomenon; the reading jōki echoes the idea of ‘joe-key’ steam shaping the air.

Variations

  • 水蒸気 (すいじょうき) water vapor
  • 熱蒸気 (ねつじょうき) hot steam
  • 高圧蒸気 (こうあつじょうき) high-pressure steam

Example Phrases

  • 朝の 蒸気 が 温かい コーヒー を 包む。
    asa no jōki ga atatakai kōhī wo tsutsumu.
    The morning steam wraps around warm coffee.
    Lista:
    • 朝の (asa no) – morning modifier
    • 蒸気 (jōki) – steam
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 温かい (atatakai) – warm
    • コーヒー (kōhī) – coffee
    • を (wo) – object marker
    • 包む (tsutsumu) – wrap
    Uses 「蒸気」 as the subject marked by 「が」; 「朝の」 modifies 蒸気 to mean morning steam; the verb 「包む」 takes 「コーヒー」 as the object marked by 「を」.
蒸気