Translation and Meaning of: 石 - ishi

If you have ever wondered about the origin of the Japanese word 石[いし] or how it is used in daily life, you are in the right place. In this article, we will explore everything from its etymology to cultural curiosities about this kanji that means "stone." Beyond the basic meaning, you will discover how it appears in common expressions, tips for memorization, and even funny puns that the Japanese love. And if you are studying Japanese, get ready to learn useful phrases that can be added to your Anki or other spaced repetition systems.

The kanji 石 is more than just a simple character—it carries stories and uses that permeate the Japanese language and culture. From place names to popular proverbs, this word has a remarkable presence. If you have ever seen this ideogram in names like Ishikawa (石川) or in expressions like ishi no ue ni mo sannen (石の上にも三年), you will understand why it is so relevant. Let’s uncover all of this next!

Etymology and Origin of the Kanji 石

The kanji 石 has a fascinating history that dates back to Ancient China. Its original pictogram represented a stone under a cliff, symbolizing something solid and immovable. Over time, this visual representation was simplified to the stroke we know today. Interestingly, the radical of this kanji (厂) appears in other characters related to rocks and minerals, such as 岩 (iwa, "rock") and 砂 (suna, "sand").

In the Japanese language, いし is one of the oldest words to refer to stones, even present in the Manyōshū, the oldest collection of poetry in Japan. Its usage is not limited to the literal meaning—in compositions like 石油 (sekiyu, "oil") or 宝石 (hōseki, "gem"), it takes on different nuances. And if you've heard of ishigaki (石垣), the traditional stone walls of Okinawa, now you know where the name comes from!

Use in Daily Life and Popular Expressions

In daily life, the Japanese use 石 in contexts that go beyond geology. A classic example is the proverb ishi no ue ni mo sannen (石の上にも三年), which means "even on top of a stone for three years"—in other words, persistence brings results. Another curious expression is ishi ni kajiru (石にかじる), used to describe someone extremely stubborn, as if they were "biting a stone".

Those who play Go or Shogi also recognize this kanji: the pieces of these games are called ishi. And we can't forget about the cuisine—the famous dish ishiyaki (石焼き) involves cooking food on hot stones. Even in train stations, you find this character, as in Ishikawachō (石川町), a neighborhood in Yokohama. Notice how this word is everywhere?

Tips for Memorization and Curiosities

If you're struggling to remember how to write 石, one tip is to visualize the radical 厂 as a cliff and the bottom part 口 as a stone falling. Another trick is to associate it with compound words like 磁石 (jishaku, "magnet"), which literally means "magnetic stone." And for those who enjoy puns, the Japanese love to play with the sound ishi—in regional dialects, it can sound like "doctor" (医師) or even "will" (意志).

A little-known fact is that 石 was also an ancient unit of measurement for rice, equivalent to about 180 liters. Today, this usage is rare, but it still appears in period dramas. And if you visit Kyoto, you'll notice that many souvenir shops sell omamori (amulet) with this kanji—it's said to bring firmness and stability, just like a stone. How about including this in your next flashcard deck?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 岩 (iwa) - Rock
• 砂利 (jari) - pebbles, gravel
• 石ころ (ishikoro) - small stone, pebble
• 石材 (sekizai) - stone material, building stones
• 石灰 (sekai) - calcium oxide
• 石炭 (sekitan) - mineral coal
• 石器 (seki) - stone tool, stone utensils
• 石像 (sekizō) - stone sculpture
• 石膏 (sekikō) - gypsum, gypsum cement
• 石英 (sekiin) - quartz
• 石鹸 (sekken) - soap
• 石油 (sekiyu) - oil

石

Romaji: ishi
Kana: いし
Type: Noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: stone

Meaning in English: stone

Definition: The main mineral substance of the earth's crust, an inorganic solid, hard and naturally occurring crystalline substance.

Example Sentences - (石) ishi

See below some example sentences:

流石に素晴らしいですね。

Sasuga ni subarashii desu ne

As expected

It is wonderful.

• 流石に (sasuga ni) - expression that means "as expected" or "indeed"
• 素晴らしい (subarashii) - adjective that means "wonderful" or "excellent"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or respectful form of speech
• ね (ne) - final particle that indicates a rhetorical question or a search for confirmation

転がる石に苔むさず

korogaru ishi ni koke musazu

A rolling stone gathers in the moss.

Doesn't move in Rolling Stones

• 転がる - bearing
• 石 - stone
• に - particle indicating target or direction
• 苔むさず - sem musgo

石を持ってきてください。

Ishi o motte kite kudasai

Please bring a stone.

Please bring the stone.

• 石 (ishi) - stone
• を (wo) - object particle
• 持ってきて (motte kite) - bring (literally, "to hold and come")
• ください (kudasai) - please (a polite way to ask for something)

石炭は火力発電所で使われる重要なエネルギー源です。

Ishitan wa karyoku hatsudensho de tsukawareru juuyou na enerugii gen desu

Coal is an important source of energy used in thermal power plants.

Coal is an important source of energy used in thermal power plants.

• 石炭 (sekitan) - coal
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 火力発電所 (karyoku hatsudensho) - power plant
• で (de) - Location particle
• 使われる (tsukawareru) - to be used
• 重要な (juuyouna) - important
• エネルギー源 (enerugii gen) - energy source
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

真珠は美しい宝石です。

Shinju wa utsukushii houseki desu

The pearls are beautiful jewels.

Pearls are beautiful jewels.

• 真珠 (しんじゅ) - pearl
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい (うつくしい) - Beautiful, lovely
• 宝石 (ほうせき) - gemstone
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

森林は自然の宝石です。

Mori no wa shizen no hōseki desu

Forests are nature's jewels.

The forest is a natural gem.

• 森林 (shinrin) - forest
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 自然 (shizen) - nature
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 宝石 (hōseki) - jewel
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

宝石は美しいです。

Hōseki wa utsukushii desu

The jewelry is beautiful.

The jewelry is beautiful.

• 宝石 (hōseki) - It means "precious stone" or "jewel".
• は (wa) - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "gemstone"
• 美しい (utsukushii) - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

彼女は海に石を沈めた。

Kanojo wa umi ni ishi o shizumeta

She sank a stone into the sea.

She sank the stone into the sea.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - She
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 海 (umi) - sea
• に (ni) - Destination particle
• 石 (ishi) - stone
• を (wo) - Direct object particle
• 沈めた (shizumeta) - Afundou

玉は美しい宝石です。

Gyoku wa utsukushii houseki desu

The ball is a beautiful gem.

• 玉 - means "precious stone" or "sphere" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 美しい - The adjective that means "pretty" or "beautiful" in Japanese is "美しい" (utsukushii).
• 宝石 - means "precious stone" or "jewel" in Japanese
• です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating a statement or declaration

石油はエネルギー源として重要です。

Sekiyu wa enerugī gen to shite jūyō desu

Oil is important as a source of energy.

• 石油 (sekiyu) - oil
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• エネルギー (enerugii) - energy
• 源 (gen) - Source
• として (toshite) - how
• 重要 (juuyou) - important
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present