charcoal

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 炭 has 9 strokes and appears in words relating to charcoal or coal.
• Basic usage: 炭焼き is read すみやき, and 炭鉱 is read たんこう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Making charcoal and grilling with it
  • 昔ながらの炭焼き means making charcoal by traditional methods.
  • 鶏肉の炭焼き means chicken grilled over charcoal.
• Readings within words
  • 炭 is read すみ in 炭焼き.
  • In 炭鉱, a coal mine, 炭 is read たん.