炭
charcoal, coal
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
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.