鉄
Meaning in Englishiron
Animated kanji stroke order
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Word context
What it means
What does 鉄 mean? It denotes iron, a ferrous metal central to industry and daily life.
Main meanings
- iron content in nutrition context (鉄分) and metal materials context
- figurative uses expressing strength, resilience, or rigidity (鉄の意志, ironclad)
- general use in compounds and terms related to iron and its applications
How to use it
In formal and technical contexts, 鉄 denotes iron as a metal; in everyday language it appears in compounds and idioms describing iron-containing materials or systems, as well as nutritional and symbolic uses; common appearances include scientific writing, educational materials, signage, and idiomatic phrases referring to strength or durability.
Variants and close terms
- 鋼 (steel) — related metal concept often contrasted with iron in materials contexts
- 非鉄金属 (non-ferrous metals) — antonymic category in metallurgical discourse
- 錬鉄 (wrought iron) — historical form of iron
- 鉄道, 鉄板 — common compounds using 鉄 with specialized senses
Composition
- 金 radical on the left signals metal
- phonetic/right component provides the reading and connects to the concept of iron
Etymology
phonetic evolution The current kanji 鉄 is the simplified form of 鐵, combining the metal radical 金 with a phonetic component that historically guided the reading; the pronunciation tetsu (tetsu) comes from historical Chinese readings, and the orthography was regularized in modern reforms, reducing strokes while preserving sound.
Origin
Ironworking in Japan dates to the Yayoi period, with early iron tools and weapons arriving from the Asian mainland; by the Edo period iron production and use were widespread in crafts, agriculture, and infrastructure, and the modern form 鈀鉄 was established during Meiji-era orthography reforms.
Word class
noun (名詞)