溶岩(ようがん)

ようがん
noun
lava
naturescience
1. lava
Molten rock that flows from a volcano during an eruption, or the solidified rock formed when it cools.
火山(かざん)から溶岩(ようがん)が流(なが)れ出(だ)した。
Lava flowed out of the volcano.
溶岩(ようがん)が冷(ひ)えて固(かた)まった岩(いわ)が見(み)られる。
You can see rocks formed from cooled and solidified lava.
富士山(ふじさん)の周辺(しゅうへん)には過去(かこ)の噴火(ふんか)で流(なが)れた溶岩(ようがん)の跡(あと)がある。
Around Mt. Fuji, there are traces of lava that flowed from past eruptions.

Usage

The characters literally mean "melted rock" (溶(と)ける + 岩(いわ)). Refers to both the molten state during eruption and the solidified rock afterward. Japan has many active volcanoes, making this word relevant in geography, tourism, and disaster preparedness.

The underground version before eruption is called マグマ (magma).

Common collocations

  • 溶岩(ようがん)が流(なが)れる: lava flows
  • 溶岩流(ようがんりゅう): lava flow
  • 溶岩(ようがん)台地(だいち): lava plateau
  • 溶岩(ようがん)ドーム: lava dome

Related Words

Related: 噴火(ふんか) (volcanic eruption)
Related: 火口(かこう) (crater (of volcano))
Related: 火山(かざん) (volcano)
Related: 噴煙(ふんえん) (volcanic smoke)
Related: 火山灰(かざんばい) (volcanic ash)
Related: マグマ (magma)
Compare: 玄武岩(げんぶがん) (basalt)
Compare: 噴火口(ふんかこう) (volcanic crater)
general
Added 2026.2.24 19:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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