窒 素(ちっそ)

ちっそ

noun

nitrogen

technical

1. nitrogen

A chemical element (N) that makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere. An odorless, colorless gas essential for plant growth and used in various industrial processes.

空気(くうき)の約(やく)78%は窒素(ちっそ)だ。

About 78% of the air is nitrogen.

液体(えきたい)窒素(ちっそ)は非常(ひじょう)に低(ひく)い温度(おんど)で使(つか)われる。

Liquid nitrogen is used at extremely low temperatures.

植物(しょくぶつ)の成長(せいちょう)には窒素(ちっそ)を含(ふく)む肥料(ひりょう)が必要(ひつよう)だ。

Plants need fertilizer containing nitrogen in order to grow.

Usage

窒素(ちっそ) is used in science, agriculture, and everyday contexts. The kanji 窒(ちっ) means "suffocate" and 素(そ) means "element," reflecting the fact that nitrogen alone does not support breathing.

Common collocations

液体(えきたい)窒素(ちっそ) (liquid nitrogen)
窒素(ちっそ)肥料(ひりょう) (nitrogen fertilizer)
窒素(ちっそ)酸化物(さんかぶつ) (nitrogen oxides)
窒素(ちっそ)固定(こてい) (nitrogen fixation)

Chemical element names

Japanese element names often use descriptive kanji:

酸素(さんそ) (oxygen — "acid element")
水素(すいそ) (hydrogen — "water element")
炭素(たんそ) (carbon — "charcoal element")
窒素(ちっそ) (nitrogen — "suffocating element")

Related Words

Related: 酸素(さんそ) (oxygen)

general

Added 2026.2.13 21:44 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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