How to say "boulder" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 岩いわnounThe common native word for the concrete sense: a boulder is a large mass of stone, the kind you scramble over on a mountain trail or see sitting in a river.
- nounA katakana borrowing from English. In practice it is the word for rock music and drinks on the rocks; it is seldom the right choice for an actual boulder — 岩 is the natural term.
For an actual boulder—a large mass of stone—use 岩; 「ロック」 is in practice the word for rock music and drinks served on the rocks, and seldom refers to physical stones.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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