木炭(もくたん)

もくたん
noun
charcoal
1. charcoal; wood charcoal
A black carbon material made by burning wood in a low-oxygen environment. Used for fuel, art, water purification, and deodorizing.
木炭(もくたん)で火(ひ)を起(お)こす。
To start a fire with charcoal.
木炭(もくたん)デッサンの授業(じゅぎょう)を受(う)けた。
I took a class in charcoal drawing.
備長炭(びんちょうたん)は日本(にほん)を代表(だいひょう)する高品質(こうひんしつ)な木炭(もくたん)だ。
Binchotan is a high-quality charcoal representative of Japan.

木炭(もくたん) is the formal/technical term for wood charcoal. In everyday speech, 炭(すみ) is more common. The kanji mean 'wood' (木(もく)) + 'charcoal' (炭(たん)).

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 木炭(もくたん)で火(ひ)を起(お)こす (to start a fire with charcoal)
  • 木炭(もくたん)画(が) (charcoal drawing)
  • 木炭(もくたん)窯(がま) (charcoal kiln)

USES:

  • 燃料(ねんりょう) (fuel — for grilling, heating)
  • 脱臭(だっしゅう) (deodorizing)
  • 浄水(じょうすい) (water purification)
  • デッサン (drawing, sketching)

CULTURAL NOTE:
備長炭(びんちょうたん) (binchotan) is Japan's most famous charcoal, made from 樫(かし) (oak). Prized for even heat in cooking and water purification.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 炭(すみ): charcoal (everyday term)
  • 石炭(せきたん): coal (mineral, not wood-based)
general
Added 2026.3.19 21:20 · Revised 2026.3.31 10:51
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