The chemical element iron. Used in scientific, industrial, and everyday contexts.
Strike while the iron is hot.
This pot is made of iron.
Often used loosely to refer to steel, especially in compounds. Compare with 鋼 (はがね), which specifically means steel.
See also: 鋼
A steel bridge spans the river.
noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no', noun
Metaphorical use for something strong, unyielding, or strict. Often used as a no-adjective.
He faced his serious illness with an iron will.
This team is known for its iron discipline.
noun, noun, used as a suffix, noun, used as a prefix
Abbreviation of 鉄道 (てつどう). Used as a prefix or suffix in compounds like 私鉄 (private railway) or 国鉄 (national railway).
See also: 鉄道
I commute by private railway.
The national railway was privatized.
Colloquial suffix, short for 鉄道ファン. Often used in compounds like 撮り鉄 (railway photographer) or 乗り鉄 (person who enjoys riding trains).
He's a railfan photographer, always taking pictures at stations on his days off.
As a travel-oriented railfan, he has conquered railway lines all over Japan.
At this factory, iron is melted at high temperatures and processed.
His will was as hard as iron, and no one could change it.
She continued the harsh training with an iron will.
The craftsman forged the red-hot iron into a sword.
鉄 refers to plain iron, the base metal, while 鋼鉄 refers specifically to steel, an alloy made from iron.
鉄 (iron) is pronounced identically to 哲 (sage, wisdom) but is written differently and has an entirely unrelated meaning.
electric railway
Meitetsu; Nagoya Railroad
clenched fist; iron fist
strong arm; iron arm
gun; firearm · wooden pole for sumo practice · puffer fish
iron and steel
steel frame; steel beam; steel girder
rebar; reinforcing bar · reinforced concrete
iron man; strong man; person of iron will · robot; steel-clad robot
blood and iron; military might
iron content; iron
private railway
ironclad rule; inviolable rule; iron law
iron hammer; metal hammer · crushing blow; severe punishment; devastating strike
iron wall; impregnable fortress · impregnable; invulnerable; unassailable
iron manufacturing; ironmaking
made of iron; iron
steel tower · electricity pylon; transmission tower
ironware; iron tools; iron utensils
iron rod; iron bar; iron club · horizontal bar (gymnastics)
cast iron
red-hot iron · swords and guns; gunfire · violent temper; termagancy · gambler · lean tuna; red tuna meat
ironworking; ironworker
iron bridge; railway bridge
iron bars; iron grille; iron lattice · prison; jail
percussion hammer; firing hammer; cocking piece