Translation guide
The chemical element carbon, as well as carbon-based materials like charcoal and carbon paper. This guide covers how to express these concepts naturally in Japanese.
Referring to the element carbon in scientific or technical contexts.
The standard word for the chemical element carbon. Used in chemistry, materials science, and everyday technical contexts.
Carbon is the element with atomic number 6.
Referring to carbon-based materials like charcoal, coal, or soot, often in everyday or traditional contexts.
General word for charcoal. Used for grilling, drawing, and traditional fuel.
Referring to carbon paper used for making copies, or the resulting copy.
Referring to carbonation or carbon dioxide in beverages.
The loanword カーボン is used mainly in compounds like カーボン紙 (carbon paper) or カーボンニュートラル (carbon neutral). For the pure element, always use 炭素 (たんそ).
Aim for carbon neutrality.
炭 (すみ) is the general term for charcoal. 石炭 (せきたん) is coal (mineral). 木炭 (もくたん) is specifically wood charcoal. Use 炭 for everyday charcoal grilling, 石炭 for industrial coal.
Carbon dioxide is made of carbon and oxygen.
We use charcoal for the barbecue.
Start a fire with charcoal.
Specifically coal (the mineral). Used for energy production and historical contexts.
Coal is one of the fossil fuels.
Soot, the black powdery carbon residue from incomplete combustion. Often found in chimneys or after a fire.
Soot has accumulated in the chimney.
Carbon paper. The physical sheet used to make copies. Often used in office or receipt contexts.
Use carbon paper to duplicate the slip.
Carbon copy. The duplicate made using carbon paper. Also used metaphorically for an exact copy.
Please keep the carbon copy of this document.
Carbonic acid or carbonation. Used in words like 炭酸飲料 (carbonated drink) and 炭酸水 (sparkling water).
Do you like carbonated drinks?
Mix with sparkling water.
木炭で焼き鳥を焼く。
Grill yakitori over charcoal.