灰皿

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 灰皿 is read as はいざら and is a noun for an ashtray used to hold cigarette ash and cigarette ends.
• Basic usage: Washing an ashtray used by a guest appears in 灰皿を洗う, while removing an ashtray from an entrance appears in 入口の灰皿を撤去する.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A container specifically for tobacco ash
  • It is not a bin for general refuse but a receptacle for ash and cigarette ends produced while smoking.
• Difference from ごみ箱
  • Unlike a bin for many kinds of waste, this word specifically identifies a container for cigarette ash and ends.