鋼

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 鋼, read はがね. This noun denotes steel as a strong iron-based material.
• Basic usage: 鋼を熱する makes steel the material being heated, while 鋼の棒 identifies rods as made of steel.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Material heated for shaping
  • An artisan heats steel as the material for making a strong blade. Example: 職人は鋼を熱して丈夫な刃物を作りました。 — The artisan heated steel to make a strong blade.
• Rods used in a model
  • Thin steel rods are used as structural material in a model bridge. Example: 橋の模型には細い鋼の棒を使いました。 — We used thin steel rods in the model bridge.