Translation guide
In Japanese, 'rock salt' can refer to the mineral halite, coarse salt crystals, or salt used for de-icing roads. The most common term is 岩塩 (がんえん), but other expressions exist depending on context.
The naturally occurring mineral form of sodium chloride, often in large crystals.
The standard term for rock salt as a mineral. Used in geology, cooking, and everyday contexts.
この岩塩はヒマラヤ産です。
This rock salt is from the Himalayas.
岩塩ランプを買いました。
I bought a rock salt lamp.
Large-grained salt used in grinders or as a finishing salt.
Often used for coarse, minimally processed salt in cooking, even if not strictly mineral halite.
ステーキに岩塩をふりかける。
Sprinkle rock salt on the steak.
Literally 'coarse salt'. Refers to large-grained salt, which may or may not be rock salt. Common in cooking.
Salt spread on roads and walkways to melt ice.
General term for de-icing agent, which is often rock salt. Used in official contexts.
道路に凍結防止剤をまく。
Spread de-icing agent on the road.
Literally 'snow-melting agent'. Commonly used for salt or other chemicals used to melt snow/ice.
Simply 'salt'. In context, it can refer to rock salt used for de-icing, but it's ambiguous.
Large salt crystals used for decoration, lamps, or bath salts.
Used for decorative items like lamps or bath salts made from rock salt.
岩塩バスソルトは肌にいい。
Rock salt bath salts are good for the skin.
岩塩 (rock salt) is specifically the mineral halite, while 粗塩 (coarse salt) refers to the grain size. In cooking, 粗塩 may be sea salt or rock salt, so if you want to emphasize the mineral origin, use 岩塩.
粗塩で肉をマリネする。
Marinate the meat with coarse salt.
融雪剤として塩が使われる。
Salt is used as a snow-melting agent.
In winter, they spread salt on the roads.