Japanese word

原子

Pronunciation

Romajigenshi

Meaning

  • nounatom

Example

原子は物質を作る基本的な単位です。gen shi wa bus shitsu o tsuku ru ki hon teki na tan i de su

An atom is the basic unit that makes up matter.

Illustration for 原子 (atom)

More examples

科学者は装置を使って原子の動きを調べます。ka gaku sha wa sō chi o tsuka tte gen shi no ugo ki o shira be ma su

Scientists use equipment to study the movement of atoms.

Core concept

Refers to the smallest unit of an element that keeps the element's chemical properties, with a nucleus surrounded by electrons.

Common phrases

  • 原子番号gen shi ban gō

    atomic number

  • 原子の構造gen shi no kō zō

    the structure of an atom

  • 原子を調べるgen shi o shira be ru

    study an atom

Definition in Japanese

元素の性質を保つ最小の粒子で、中心に原子核があり、その周囲を電子が取り巻くもの。gen so no sei shitsu o tamo tsu sai shō no ryū shi de chū shin ni gen shi kaku ga a ri so no shū i o den shi ga to ri ma ku mo no

Word origin

The Japanese term 原子 (genshi) combines 原 (gen, "origin") and 子 (shi, "child"), giving the sense of a fundamental unit; English atom comes from Greek atomos, "uncuttable."

Usage tips

  • In science, an atom's identity is set by its number of protons, so changing that number changes the element.

Related words

  • 原子的genshitekiatomicna-adjective
  • 原子化genshikaatomizationnoun

Word lists with this word