How to say "mineral" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

ミネラルCommon
nounThe katakana loanword, covering minerals as nutrients — the sense at issue in food, drink, and health. For minerals as rocks and geological substances, 鉱物 is the word to reach for.
この食べ物たべものは、それなくしては我々われわれの身体からだが正ただしく機能きのうしないすべてのミネラルを含ふくんでいます。↗
This food contains all the minerals without which our bodies would not function.
鉱物こうぶつJLPT N2approx.Common
nounThe scientific term for a mineral as a natural inorganic substance, the sense used in geology and mineralogy. For minerals in food and drink, ミネラル is the word instead.
オーストラリアは鉱物こうぶつが豊富ほうふだ。↗
Australia is abundant in minerals.
鉱石こうせきCommon
nounPrimarily means 'ore': rock from which metals are mined and extracted. It is seldom the right choice for 'mineral' itself; for that sense, 鉱物 (or, for nutrition, ミネラル) is what you want.

Use 「ミネラル」 for minerals as nutrients in food and drink, 鉱物 for minerals as natural scientific substances, and avoid 鉱石 for 'mineral' — it really means ore, rock mined for its metals.

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

Japanese equivalents

ミネラルmineral
鉱物こうぶつmineral
鉱石こうせきore
鉱質こうしつmineral

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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