How to Say "Magnet" in Japanese

磁石

jishaku[d͡ʑiɕa̠kɯ̟]

The Japanese word for "magnet" is 磁石 (jishaku).

磁石 refers to a piece of material that attracts some metals by magnetism.

Meaning: piece of material that attracts some metals by magnetism (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the kanji 磁 (magnetism) and 石 (stone). The literal translation of 'jishaku' means 'magnetic stone'.

jishaku

The kanji 磁 in 磁石 is also used in the word 磁器, which means 'porcelain'.
In Japanese, if you want to describe a magnet's power, you use the verb つく (tsuku), which literally means 'to stick' or 'to attach'.
In Japanese culture, the concept of 磁石 is often associated with 'attraction' in a romantic sense, using the word 引き付け合う to describe two people pulling toward each other like magnets.

これはU字形磁石です。
This is a horseshoe magnet.
This sentence is useful for identifying a horseshoe magnet using 磁石.
Tatoeba #1795024 by Akatsuki, translation #681411 by Source_VOA
地球は大きな磁石のようなものです。
Earth is like a big magnet.
This sentence compares the Earth to a large magnet using 磁石.
Tatoeba #11263409 by small_snow, translation #3973221 by Hybrid
地球は内部に大きな磁石を持ったボールのようなものである。
The earth is like a ball with a big magnet in it.
This sentence describes the Earth as a ball containing a large magnet using 磁石.
Tatoeba #126948 by KK_kaku_, translation #277142 by Swift
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Hiroto and Yui are cleaning the refrigerator.

大翔 Hiroto

この磁石、どこから来たの？
Kono jishaku, doko kara kita no?
Where did this magnet come from?
結衣 Yui

わからないけど、可愛いよね。
Wakaranai kedo, kawaii yo ne.
I don't know, but it's cute, isn't it?
大翔 Hiroto

強い磁石だから、しっかり付いてるね。
Tsuyoi jishaku dakara, shikkari tsuiteru ne.
It's a strong magnet, so it's sticking well.
結衣 Yui

本当だ。そのままにしておこう。
Hontou da. Sono mama ni shite okou.
You're right. Let's just leave it there.

Sources

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