171

Stone, Rock

いし (ishi)

JLPT N3

Interesting Fact

Japan's famous Zen rock gardens (枯山水, karesansui) use carefully placed stones to represent mountains and islands. A few simple rocks can symbolize an entire landscape.

Memory Trick

Imagine picking up a heavy STONE from the ground. It's solid, hard, and impossible to mistake for anything else.

Readings

Onyomi: セキ (seki), シャク (shaku), コク (koku)

Kunyomi: いし (ishi)

Example Words

いし (ishi)
Stone
宝石
ほうせき (houseki)
Gemstone
石油
せきゆ (sekiyu)
Petroleum
石橋
いしばし (ishibashi)
Stone bridge

Example Sentence

子どもが 川で 石を 拾いました。

こどもが かわで いしを ひろいました。

kodomo ga kawa de ishi o hiroimashita

The child picked up a stone by the river.

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