鉱
mineral, ore
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- あらがね
Meaning
鉱 centers on raw mineral resources extracted from the earth: ores and minerals, especially those containing metal.
Most common words using 鉱
20 of 213- 鉱山こうざんN1
mine (ore)
- 鉱物こうぶつN2
mineral
- 炭鉱たんこうN2
coal mine; (coal) pit; colliery
- 鉱石こうせき
ore; mineral; crystal
- 鉱業こうぎょうN1
mining industry
- 金鉱きんこう
gold ore; gold deposit
- 溶鉱炉ようこうろ
smelting furnace; blast furnace
- 鉱脈こうみゃく
vein (of ore); reef; streak; lode
- 鉄鉱てっこう
iron ore
- 鉱工業こうこうぎょう
mining and manufacturing industry
- 採鉱さいこう
mining
- 鉱泉こうせん
mineral spring
- 鉱床こうしょう
mineral deposit; ore deposit
- 探鉱たんこう
mineral exploration
- 鉱毒こうどく
mine pollution
- 鉱区こうく
mining area; mine lot
- アタカマ鉱アタカマこう
atacamite
- アルゴドン鉱アルゴドンこう
algodonite
- ウラン鉱ウランこう
uranium ore
- ウルツ鉱ウルツこう
wurtzite
Study
Etymology
鉱 is the modern simplified form of 礦. The older form combines 石 (stone) with 廣 (broad), suggesting a broad deposit of stone or mineral. The modern form replaces 石 with 金 (metal) and simplifies 廣 to 広, emphasizing metallic ores.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is 金 (metal) and the right side is 広 (broad). Picture a broad vein of metal ore running through rock: 鉱 is mineral ore.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a miner shouting 'Coal!' when they find a broad vein of ore: coal -> コウ, and the metal 金 is right there.