鉄(てつ)

てつ

noun

iron, steel

1. iron

A metallic element.

鉄(てつ)は硬(かた)い。

Iron is hard.

鉄(てつ)でできている。

It's made of iron.

鉄(てつ)は熱(あつ)いうちに打(う)て。

Strike while the iron is hot.

Proverb meaning: act while conditions are favorable.

2. steel

An alloy of iron.

鉄(てつ)の橋(はし)が架(か)かっている。

A steel bridge spans across.

地下鉄(ちかてつ)で通勤(つうきん)している。

I commute by subway.

鉄道(てつどう)で旅行(りょこう)するのが好(す)きだ。

I like traveling by rail.

鉄(てつ) refers to iron as a material, and by extension, steel and iron products.

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

鉄道(てつどう): railroad, railway
地下鉄(ちかてつ): subway
鉄板(てっぱん): iron plate, griddle; also slang for "guaranteed"
鉄砲(てっぽう): gun, firearm
鉄橋(てっきょう): iron bridge

EXPRESSIONS:

鉄(てつ)は熱(あつ)いうちに打(う)て: Strike while the iron is hot

SIMILAR MATERIALS:

銅(どう): copper
銀(ぎん): silver
金(きん): gold
鋼(はがね): steel (refined iron)

SLANG:
鉄板(てっぱん) also means "guaranteed" or "sure thing" in modern slang.

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:22 · Revised 2026.5.19 5:26

02000/02225_tetsu