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Kotomora

炭

charcoal, coal

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • タン

Kun'yomi

  • すみ

Meaning

炭 centers on black, carbon-rich material used for burning: charcoal and coal. Both are solid fuels produced from organic matter.

Most common words using 炭

20 of 235
  • 炭酸たんさん
    N1

    carbonic acid

  • 炭水化物たんすいかぶつ

    carbohydrate

  • 炭素たんそ
    N1

    carbon (C)

  • 炭すみ
    N1

    charcoal

  • 石炭せきたん
    N3

    coal

  • 二酸化炭素にさんかたんそ
    N2

    carbon dioxide; CO2

  • 炭鉱たんこう
    N2

    coal mine; (coal) pit; colliery

  • 炭火すみび

    charcoal fire

  • 炭化たんか

    carbonization; carbonisation

  • 木炭もくたん

    charcoal

  • 炭疽たんそ

    anthrax

  • 練炭れんたん

    briquette (charcoal or coal)

  • 炭焼きすみやき

    charcoal making; charcoal maker

  • 活性炭かっせいたん

    activated carbon; activated charcoal

  • 泥炭でいたん

    peat

  • 炭屋すみや

    charcoal dealer

  • 消し炭けしずみ

    partly burned charcoal

  • 炭酸泉たんさんせん

    carbonated spring; soda spring

  • 一酸化炭素いっさんかたんそ

    carbon monoxide

  • 炭田たんでん

    coalfield; coal field

Explore all words using 炭 →

Study

Etymology

炭 combines 山 (mountain) and 灰 (ash), suggesting material from mountains that becomes ash when burned. This fits the idea of charcoal or coal.

Meaning mnemonic

Picture a mountain 山 of ash 灰: the ash comes from burning charcoal or coal, so 炭 means charcoal or coal.

Reading mnemonic

For タン, imagine a tan-colored piece of charcoal: tan -> タン, and the charcoal is that dark tan color.