さざれ石いし

noun

pebbles; gravel; small stones

Refers to small, loose stones or pebbles, often found in nature. The term is somewhat poetic and appears in the Japanese national anthem 'Kimigayo'.

• 川原かわらでさざれ石いしを拾ひろった。

  I picked up pebbles at the riverbank.

• 庭にわにさざれ石いしを敷しき詰つめた。

  I covered the garden with gravel.

noun

conglomerate rock; boulder formed from pebbles and sediment

A geological term for a rock made of cemented pebbles and sediment. This sense is less common in everyday language and is more technical.

• この崖がけはさざれ石いしでできている。

  This cliff is made of conglomerate rock.