How to Say "Ishi" in Japanese

石

[iɕi]

The Japanese word 石 (ishi) means rock.

石 is a noun used to describe a hard, mineral substance found in nature, translating to "rock" in English.

Which one should you use?

To describe a geological rock formation, the term ganseki is used instead of 石.

As a noun, 石 does not change its form to indicate pluralization.

The Japanese word for 'stony' or 'rocky' often uses 石 as a prefix, such as in 石鹸 (sekken) for 'soap', which was historically called 'stone soap'.
In Japanese culture, certain 'sacred rocks' known as iwa or ishi are often tied with straw ropes called shimenawa to mark them as dwellings of spirits.
The character 石 is used to represent a historical unit of volume, with a pronunciation of 'koku' instead of 'ishi'.

おもちゃの刀を持った少年が、お百度石に寄りかかっている。
A boy with a toy sword is leaning against the o-hyakudo-ishi, the stone of a hundredfold prayers.
This sentence illustrates the use of 石 in the context of a specific stone known as the o-hyakudo-ishi.
Tatoeba #11211585 by ITA, translation #11211639 by DJ_Saidez
はい、確かに美しい岩ですね。
Yes, it certainly is a beautiful rock.
道に大きな石が落ちている。
michi ni ookina ishi ga ochite iru.
A large stone is lying on the road.
川の中に石がたくさんあります。
kawa no naka ni ishi ga takusan arimasu.
There are many stones in the river.

Misaki and Kenta are walking in a park.

美咲 Misaki

見て、この石すごく不思議な色だよ。
Mite, kono ishi sugoku fushigina iro dayo.
Look, this stone is a very strange color.
健太 Kenta

本当だ。どこで見つけたの？
Hontō da. Doko de mitsuketa no?
You're right. Where did you find it?
美咲 Misaki

あそこの池の近くにあったよ。
Asoko no ike no chikaku ni atta yo.
It was over there near the pond.
健太 Kenta

いいお土産になるね。
Ii omiyage ni naru ne.
That will make a nice souvenir.

Sources

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