ore

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is こう, and no kun reading is listed. It has 13 strokes. It appears in words for mines and the ore extracted from them.
• Basic usage: 鉱山 is read こうざん, and 鉱石 is read こうせき.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 鉱山 / 鉱石
  • 鉱山 means mine and is read こうざん. It refers to a mine where minerals are extracted.
  • 閉鎖された鉱山の跡が観光施設になっている。 means “The site of the closed mine has become a tourist facility.”
  • 鉱石 means ore and is read こうせき. It refers to mined ore.
  • 博物館で光る鉱石を観察した。 means “We observed shining ore at the museum.”