石炭
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Noun for coal, a combustible black rock used as fuel. It combines 『石』 (ishi, 'stone') and 『炭』 (tan, 'charcoal'). Use with counters like 『個』 (ko, 'piece') or 『トン』 (ton, 'ton') for quantity, e.g., 『石炭を三トン買う』 (sekitan o san ton kau, 'buy three tons of coal').
Theme
Two friends, Ken and User, are discussing energy sources for a school project on environmental science.
石炭
せきたん
coal
Nature & EnvironmentNatural Phenomena
Memory Hook
Imagine a 'stone' (石 ishi, 'stone') that's 'charred' (炭 tan, 'charcoal') black from fire — that's coal! 'Stone-charcoal' → 石炭 (sekitan, 'coal').
Cultural Note
In Japan, coal mining was historically important in regions like Hokkaido and Kyushu, but its use has declined due to environmental concerns and a shift to cleaner energy sources. You might see references to coal in historical contexts or in terms like 『石炭火力発電』 (sekitan karyoku hatsuden, 'coal-fired power generation').
Forms
Base: 石炭Noun for coal, a combustible black rock used as fuel. It combines 『石』 (ishi, 'stone') and 『炭』 (tan, 'charcoal'). Use with counters like 『個』 (ko, 'piece') or 『トン』 (ton, 'ton') for quantity, e.g., 『石炭を三トン買う』 (sekitan o san ton kau, 'buy three tons of coal').