How to say "metal" in Japanese

• 金属きんぞくJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe general word for metal as a material — the substance that things like iron, copper and aluminium are made of. Choose it for science, industry, and everyday talk about what something is made of.
  鉄てつは最もっとも有用ゆうような金属きんぞくです。↗

  Iron is the most useful metal.
• メタルCommon
  nounThe loanword. For the material itself the native term is the usual choice; メタル is heard mainly in certain contexts, such as heavy-metal music and the metal fittings and trim on bags, belts and clothing.
• 金かねJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThis is really the everyday word for money; as a term for metal it is marginal, and you will seldom want it when talking about what something is made of.

Use 金属 for metal as a material; 「メタル」 is the loanword, heard for the music genre and metal fittings; 金 really means money and is seldom the word for metal.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 金属きんぞくmetal
• メタルmetal
• 金かねmetal
• 金きんmetal (fourth phase of Wu Xing)