化石(かせき)

かせき
noun
fossil
sciencenature
1. fossil
The preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms found in rock. Also used figuratively to describe something outdated or behind the times.
恐竜(きょうりゅう)の化石(かせき)が見(み)つかった。
A dinosaur fossil was found.
この地層(ちそう)からは貝(かい)の化石(かせき)が多(おお)く出(で)る。
Many shell fossils come out of this geological layer.
博物館(はくぶつかん)には数百万年前(すうひゃくまんねんまえ)の化石(かせき)が展示(てんじ)されており、子(こ)どもたちに大人気(だいにんき)だ。
The museum displays fossils from millions of years ago, and they are very popular with children.

Also used figuratively to describe something hopelessly outdated, as in 化石(かせき)みたいな考(かんが)え方(かた) (fossil-like way of thinking). The compound 化石(かせき)燃料(ねんりょう) (fossil fuel) is frequently encountered in news about energy and the environment.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 堆積岩(たいせきがん) (sedimentary rock)
Compare: 骨格標本(こっかくひょうほん) (skeletal specimen)
Related: 古生物(こせいぶつ) (fossil organism)
Related: 地層(ちそう) (geological stratum, rock layer)
general
Added 2026.2.18 15:08 · Revised 2026.10.11 9:21
11500/11796_kaseki