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N2

Kanji 炭: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 炭: charcoal, coal

Key takeaways

Kanji 炭: charcoal, coal. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N2

Meaning

charcoalcoal

On reading

タン

Kun reading

すみ

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 炭

charcoal, coal

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

山 + 灰

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Charcoal is the ash (灰) produced by burning wood from the mountain (山). You can also think of coal as a black, ash-like mineral extracted from the mountains.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

タン
  • 炭素たんそ

    carbon (element C)

  • 炭鉱たんこう

    coal mine / coal pit

  • 石炭せきたん

    coal (fossil fuel)

Commonly used words

  • 炭素
    たんそ

    carbon (element C)

  • 炭鉱
    たんこう

    coal mine / coal pit

  • 石炭
    せきたん

    coal (fossil fuel)

Example sentences

Example 1

木は素を多く含んでいます。

Translation

Wood contains a lot of carbon.

Example 2

素は化学の基本的な元素です。

Translation

Carbon is a basic element in chemistry.

Example 3

この鉱はもう閉鎖されました。

Translation

This coal mine has already been closed.

Example 4

鉱で働く人は大変です。

Translation

People who work in coal mines have a tough job.

Kanji 炭: charcoal, coal | Daily Nihongo