Japanese word

金属

Pronunciation

Romajikinzoku

Meaning

  • nounmetal

Example

この箱は金属でできています。ko no bako wa kin zoku de de ki te i ma su

This box is made of metal.

Illustration for 金属 (metal)

More examples

先生が金属のスプーンを見せます。sen sei ga kin zoku no su pū n o mi se ma su

The teacher shows us a metal spoon.

この家具には金属の部品が使われています。ko no ka gu ni wa kin zoku no bu hin ga tsuka wa re te i ma su

Metal parts are used in this piece of furniture.

Core concept

It refers to a substance that is typically shiny, conducts heat and electricity well, and can be shaped through processing.

Common phrases

  • 金属のスプーンkin zoku no su pū n

    metal spoon

  • 金属の容器kin zoku no yō ki

    metal container

  • 金属の種類kin zoku no shu rui

    type of metal

Definition in Japanese

熱や電気を伝えやすく、光沢があり、加工によって形を変えられる物質。netsu ya den ki o tsuta e ya su ku kō taku ga a ri ka kō ni yo tte katachi o ka e ra re ru bus shitsu

Word origin

The Japanese noun 金属 (kinzoku) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 金 (kin, "gold" or "metal") and 属 (zoku, "class" or "category"), together naming a class of metallic materials.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, metal is usually uncountable for the material, but a metal can mean one particular kind of metal.

Opposites

  • 非金属hikinzokunonmetalnoun

Related words

  • 金属製kinzokuseimade of metalpre-noun adjectival

Word lists with this word