岩石(がんせき)

がんせき
noun
rock; stone; bedrock
formalnaturescience
1. rock; stone; bedrock
A hard, solid mass of minerals. Used as a scientific or formal term for rocks and geological formations, as distinct from everyday words for stones.
この山(やま)は岩石(がんせき)でできている。
This mountain is made of rock.
岩石(がんせき)のサンプルを採取(さいしゅ)する。
To collect rock samples.
地質学者(ちしつがくしゃ)は岩石(がんせき)の成分(せいぶん)を分析(ぶんせき)して、地層(ちそう)の年代(ねんだい)を特定(とくてい)した。
The geologist analyzed the rock's composition and identified the age of the stratum.

The formal/scientific term for rock as a geological substance. Composed of 岩(がん) (rock/boulder) + 石(せき) (stone). Used primarily in scientific, educational, and formal contexts.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 石(いし): stone — the everyday word for a stone or pebble
  • 岩(いわ): boulder, rock — a large, visible rock formation in nature
  • 鉱物(こうぶつ): mineral — the individual mineral components that make up rocks
  • 砕石(さいせき): crushed stone — gravel made by crushing rock

Usage

In everyday speech, 石(いし) and 岩(いわ) are more common. 岩石(がんせき) appears mainly in geology, science education, and technical writing.

Related Words

Compare: 鉱物(こうぶつ) (mineral)
Related: 岩山(いわやま) (rocky mountain)
Compare: 石材(せきざい) (stone material)
Compare: 火成岩(かせいがん) (igneous rock)
Compare: 変成岩(へんせいがん) (metamorphic rock)
Compare: 土石(どせき) (earth and stone)
general
Added 2026.3.30 1:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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