chimney
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chimney
A structural device that directs smoke and exhaust gases from a fireplace, stove, or boiler to the outside.
Aus dem Schornstein des alten Hauses stieg dichter Rauch auf.
Thick smoke rose from the chimney of the old house.
heavy smoker
Colloquial and figurative for a person who smokes a lot. Often in the expression 'rauchen wie ein Schornstein' (to smoke like a chimney).
Mein Onkel raucht wie ein Schornstein, er schafft zwei Schachteln am Tag.
My uncle smokes like a chimney; he gets through two packs a day.
A closely related and culturally important word is 'der Schornsteinfeger' (chimney sweep). This person cleans chimneys and is traditionally considered a good-luck charm in Germany.
Wenn man einen Schornsteinfeger sieht, soll man schnell einen Knopf anfassen.
When you see a chimney sweep, you're supposed to quickly touch a button.
The figurative meaning for a heavy smoker is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'rauchen wie ein Schornstein' (to smoke like a chimney). This is a very common comparison.
Seit er Stress bei der Arbeit hat, raucht er wieder wie ein Schornstein.
Since he has been stressed at work, he has started smoking like a chimney again.
Common verbs in connection with 'Schornstein' (chimney) are 'rauchen' (to smoke) or 'qualmen' (to billow smoke). When it comes to maintenance, you use 'fegen' (to sweep) or 'reinigen' (to clean).
Der Schornstein muss dringend mal wieder gefegt werden.
The chimney urgently needs to be swept again.
fireplace / chimney
Kamin can also refer to the structural feature that carries smoke outside, but it is often associated with the open fireplace inside a house. Schornstein clearly refers to the device used to remove smoke and exhaust gases. Schornstein is therefore clearer for this part of a building.
Der Rauch der Heizung zieht durch den Schornstein nach draußen.
The smoke from the heating system goes outside through the chimney.
Der Rauch der Heizung zieht durch den Kamin nach draußen.
The smoke from the heating system goes outside through the chimney.
