金属
kinzoku[kʲĩnd͡zo̞kɯ̟]
The Japanese word for metal is 金属 (kinzoku). Wiktionary also lists 金 (kane).
Meaning: atomic element or material made of such atoms (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 金属 | kinzoku | [kʲĩnd͡zo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 金 | kane | [kʲĩɴ] (narrow) [kõ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
金属 is used to refer to metals as a general class of elements or metallic substances. This is the preferred term in scientific or industrial contexts when discussing the category of materials.
Which one should you use?
金属 refers to the general category of metallic substances or materials.
How do you pronounce it?
kinzoku
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the day of the week 'Friday' is 金曜日 (kin-yōbi), which literally translates to 'gold day' or 'metal day'.
- While 金属 refers to metals as a scientific class, the single kanji 金 is the standard word for 'gold' in most everyday contexts.
- The word 金属 is a compound where the second part 属 originally meant 'to be attached to' or 'to belong to a category'.
Examples in context
- 金は貴金属だ。Gold is a precious metal.This sentence demonstrates the use of 金 in the context of precious metals.Tatoeba #8732355 by small_snow, translation #8732342 by Hybrid
- 鉛は金属である。Lead is metal.This sentence shows how 金 can be used to identify lead as a metal.Tatoeba #9819624 by matsu712, translation #8916571 by CK
- アルミは金属です。Aluminium is a metal.This sentence uses 金 to state that aluminium is a metal.Tatoeba #2465578 by nihonjin, translation #2302306 by sundown
- 金属は私たちの生活に広範囲に存在します。Metal exists extensively in our daily lives.
- もうすぐメタルのライブがあるんだ。There's a metal live performance coming up soon.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are looking at a strange object in a museum.
- 蓮 Renこの金属の質感は不思議だね。Kono kinzoku no shitsukan wa fushigi da ne.The texture of this metal is strange, isn't it, Yui?
- 結衣 Yui本当、蓮君の言う通りだね。Hontou, Ren-kun no iu toori da ne.Truly, it is just as you say, Ren.
- 蓮 Ren何で作られているんだろう。Nani de tsukurarete iru n darou.I wonder what it is made of.
- 結衣 Yuiラベルを読んでみよう。Raberu o yonde miyou.Let's try reading the label.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “metal” translations and entries 金属, 金, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 金, 金属, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
