Japanese word

元素

Pronunciation

Romajigenso

Meaning

  • nounchemical element

Example

水素は元素の一つです。sui so wa gen so no hito tsu de su

Hydrogen is one of the chemical elements.

Illustration for 元素 (chemical element)

More examples

金は身近な元素ですが、電気をよく通します。kin wa mi jika na gen so de su ga den ki o yo ku tō shi ma su

Gold is a familiar element, but it conducts electricity well.

Core concept

Refers to a basic type of atom identified by its atomic number.

Common phrases

  • 元素記号gen so ki gō

    chemical symbol

  • 元素周期表gen so shū ki hyō

    periodic table

  • 元素の性質gen so no sei shitsu

    properties of an element

Definition in Japanese

物質を構成する原子の種類で、原子番号によって区別されるもの。bus shitsu o kō sei su ru gen shi no shu rui de gen shi ban gō ni yo tte ku betsu sa re ru mo no

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese term 元素 (genso) combines 元 (gen, "origin") and 素 (so, "basic material"), expressing a fundamental substance.

Usage tips

  • In English, element also means a basic part of a larger whole, but periodic table and trace element signal its chemistry sense.

Word lists with this word