クロム
kuromu
To say chrome, the hard silver metal, in Japanese, use クロム (kuromu).
クロム is the loanword Japanese uses for the metal chromium, the shiny element used for plating and in alloys.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized kuromu, in three short syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
The name of the web browser is written with a longer vowel in Japanese, so do not use クロム when you mean the browser.
Did you know?
- The word クロム is not actually a direct loan from English, but originates from the German word 'Chrom' or the French 'chrome'.
- While English speakers use 'chrome' to describe both the metal and its visual appearance, Japanese often switches to 銀色 ('silver color') when describing the look of a chrome finish.
- The word クロム is written in Katakana, a script used for foreign loanwords. In a scientific text, this script instantly tells the reader that the term is of foreign origin.
Examples in context
- うわぁ、今、ロボットが歩いてるの見た？スーパー・クロム・5000だったに違いないよ！Wow, did you just see that robot walk by? It must have been Super Chrome 5000!Here クロム is part of a made up robot name, Super Chrome 5000.Tatoeba #10581041 by auxitt, translation #10579262 by auxitt
- 高級な蛇口には、クロームの仕上げがされています。High-end faucets have a chrome finish.
- クロムは硬い金属です。Kuromu wa katai kinzoku desu.Chrome is a hard metal.
- この部品にはクロムが使われています。Kono buhin ni wa kuromu ga tsukawarete imasu.Chrome is used in this part.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a shiny piece of metal in a workshop.
- 美咲 Misakiこの銀色の輝き、すごく綺麗だね。Kono gin'iro no kagayaki, sugoku kirei da ne.This silver shine is so beautiful.
- 蓮 Renこれはクロムのメッキだよ。Kore wa kuromu no mekki da yo.This is chrome plating.
- 美咲 Misakiだからこんなに光っているのね。Dakara kon'na ni hikatte iru no ne.That's why it's shining so much.
- 蓮 Ren見た目も高級感があるよね。Mitame mo koukyuukan ga aru yo ne.It also looks high-end.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries クロム, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
