1.
dormant volcano
A volcano that has not erupted in recorded history but is not considered extinct and may erupt again. In modern geology this classification is largely obsolete in favor of 活火山/non-active, but the word remains common in general usage.
この山は休火山だ。
This mountain is a dormant volcano.
富士山は長い間休火山と呼ばれていた。
Mt. Fuji was long called a dormant volcano.
現在の分類では、休火山という用語はあまり使われなくなった。
Under modern classifications, the term "dormant volcano" is rarely used anymore.
Compound of 休 (rest, pause) + 火山 (volcano). The 休 element suggests a temporary cessation of activity.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 休火山と呼ばれる: to be called a dormant volcano
- 休火山の噴火: eruption of a dormant volcano
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 活火山: active volcano — currently active or recently active
- 死火山: extinct volcano — believed never to erupt again (also a fading classification)
- 火山: volcano — the general term
USAGE NOTE:
Modern Japanese volcanology classifies volcanoes simply as 活火山 (active) or not, since "dormant" and "extinct" status often turn out to be incorrect. The traditional three-way split (活/休/死) is still used in everyday speech, however.