Japanese word

鉱物

Pronunciation

Romajikōbutsu

Meaning

  • nounmineral

Example

地球には多くの鉱物があります。chi kyū ni wa ō ku no kō butsu ga a ri ma su

There are many minerals on Earth.

Illustration for 鉱物 (mineral)

More examples

この博物館では、珍しい鉱物を間近で観察できます。ko no haku butsu kan de wa mezura shi i kō butsu o ma jika de kan satsu de ki ma su

At this museum, you can observe rare minerals up close.

Core concept

Refers to a naturally formed solid substance with an ordered structure and a characteristic chemical composition.

Common phrases

  • 鉱物を含むkō butsu o fuku mu

    contain minerals

  • 鉱物資源kō butsu shi gen

    mineral resources

  • 鉱物の標本kō butsu no hyō hon

    mineral specimens

  • 鉱物の結晶kō butsu no kes shō

    mineral crystals

Similar words

岩石ganseki: A naturally occurring solid mass made of one or more minerals.

Definition in Japanese

自然界に存在する無機質の固体で、一定の化学組成と結晶構造をもつ物質。shi zen kai ni son zai su ru mu ki shitsu no ko tai de it tei no ka gaku so sei to kes shō kō zō o mo tsu bus shitsu

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 鉱物 (kōbutsu) combines 鉱 (kō, "ore") and 物 (butsu, "thing"), forming a word for a mineral substance.

Usage tips

  • In geology, a mineral has a characteristic composition, while a rock is usually a mixture of different minerals.

Related words

  • 鉱物化kōbutsukamineralizationnoun
  • 鉱物質kōbutsushitsumineral matternoun

Word lists with this word