鋼(はがね)

はがね
noun
steel
1. steel
Steel — an alloy of iron and carbon. Used literally for the material and figuratively to describe something strong and unyielding.
この包丁(ほうちょう)は鋼(はがね)でできている。
This kitchen knife is made of steel.
鋼(はがね)のような意志(いし)で困難(こんなん)を乗(の)り越(こ)えた。
He overcame the difficulty with a will of steel.
日本刀(にほんとう)は鋼(はがね)を何度(なんど)も折(お)り重(かさ)ねて鍛(きた)えることで、鋭(するど)い切(き)れ味(あじ)が生(う)まれる。
Japanese swords achieve their sharp cutting edge by repeatedly folding and forging steel.

The native Japanese word for steel. Also read as こう in Sino-Japanese compounds like 鉄鋼(てっこう) (iron and steel).

Usage

鋼(はがね)のような～ (like steel) is used to describe exceptional strength or toughness: 鋼(はがね)のような意志(いし) (iron will), 鋼(はがね)のような肉体(にくたい) (body of steel).

Common collocations

Well known from the manga title 鋼(はがね)の錬金術師(れんきんじゅつし) (Fullmetal Alchemist).

Related Words

Compare: 鉄(てつ) (iron, steel)
Compare: 合金(ごうきん) (alloy)
Compare: 鋳鉄(ちゅうてつ) (cast iron)
general
Added 2026.3.3 18:51 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
14500/14739_hagane