1.
sulfur
A yellow chemical element with a distinctive smell, commonly found near volcanoes and hot springs. Used in various industrial processes and associated with volcanic and geothermal areas in Japan.
硫黄の匂いがする。
It smells of sulfur.
温泉の近くで硫黄の匂いが強くなった。
The smell of sulfur got stronger near the hot spring.
火山地帯では硫黄が地表に黄色い結晶として現れることがある。
In volcanic regions, sulfur sometimes appears on the surface as yellow crystals.
USAGE:
Most commonly encountered in the context of 温泉 (hot springs) and 火山 (volcanoes). The distinctive rotten-egg smell of 硫黄 is a familiar sensory experience at many Japanese hot spring resorts.
KANJI:
硫 refers to sulfur as a chemical element and 黄 means "yellow," describing the element's characteristic color. The reading いおう is irregular.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 硫黄の匂い: smell of sulfur
- 硫黄泉: sulfur spring
- 硫黄島: Iwo Jima (literally "Sulfur Island")