鉄
iron
Readings
On'yomi
- テツ
Kun'yomi
- くろがね
Nanori
- けん
- てっ
Meaning
鉄 centers on the metal iron, a strong, hard material used for tools and construction.
Most common words using 鉄
22 of 392- 鉄てつN2
iron (Fe)
- 鉄道てつどうN3
railroad; railway; rail transport
- 地下鉄ちかてつN5
subway; metro; underground (railway)
- 鉄板てっぱん
iron plate; steel plate
- 鋼鉄こうてつ
steel
- 電鉄でんてつ
electric railway
- 国鉄こくてつN1
national railway
- 鉄砲てっぽうN2
gun; firearm
- 鉄鋼てっこうN1
iron and steel
- 鉄骨てっこつN1
steel frame; steel beam; steel girder
- 鉄筋てっきんN1
rebar; (iron) reinforcing bar; reinforcing steel
- 私鉄してつN3
private railway
- 製鉄せいてつN1
iron manufacture
- 鉄製てっせい
made of iron
- 鉄棒てつぼうN1
iron rod; iron bar; iron club
- 鉄工てっこう
ironworking; ironworker
- 鉄橋てっきょうN2
railway bridge; iron bridge
- 鉄鉱てっこう
iron ore
- 製鉄所せいてつじょ
ironworks; steelworks
- 非鉄金属ひてつきんぞく
non-ferrous metal
- 銑鉄せんてつ
pig iron
- 市営地下鉄しえいちかてつ
municipal subway
Study
Etymology
鉄 is the modern simplified form of 鐵. The older form combines 金 (metal) with a phonetic component that contributed the sound. The modern 失 shape is a simplification and should not be treated as the original historical component.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 金 means metal, and the right side 失 looks like a person losing something. Imagine losing a piece of iron metal: 鉄 is iron.
Reading mnemonic
For テツ, picture a heavy iron weight that makes a loud 'tets' sound when it drops: tets -> テツ, and the iron clangs on the floor.