石綿

See also: 石绵

Chinese
rock; stone; 10 pecks
 
cotton; incessant; soft; downy
trad. (石綿) 石 綿
simp. (石绵) 石 绵

Pronunciation

Noun

石綿

  1. (chiefly Taiwan) Alternative form of 石棉 (shímián, “abestos”).

Japanese

Etymology 1
石綿 (ishiwata, sekimen): a mineral sample showing naturally occurring asbestos fibers.
Kanji in this term
石 綿
いし
Grade: 1		 わた
Grade: 5
kun’yomi

Compound of 石 (ishi, “stone”) +‎ 綿 (wata, “cotton, batting”).[1]

The first appearance of this term is unknown. The material was known in Japan at least as early as 1764, when Rangaku scholar Hiraga Gennai had asbestos cloth created based on Chinese techniques. However, he called this cloth 火浣布 (kakanpu, literally “fire + wash + cloth”).[1]

Pronunciation

Noun

石綿 (hiragana いしわた, rōmaji ishiwata)

  1. asbestos
Usage notes

When used as a standalone noun, the ishiwata reading appears to be more common.

When used in compounds, the sekimen reading appears to be more common.

Derived terms
Derived terms

Synonyms
  • アスベスト (asubesuto)
  • (dated) 石絨 (せきじゅう) (sekijū)
  • (dated) 温石棉 (おんじゃくめん) (onjakumen)

Etymology 2
Kanji in this term
石 綿
せき
Grade: 1		 めん
Grade: 5
on’yomi

May be a borrowing from Middle Chinese compound 石綿 (dzyek miɛn, literally “stone + wool, cotton”). Compare modern Cantonese 石棉 (sek6 min4).

Alternatively, may have been coined in Japan from Middle Chinese-derived elements as a compound of 石 (seki, “stone”) +‎ 綿 (men, “cotton, batting”).

Pronunciation

Noun

石綿 (hiragana せきめん, rōmaji sekimen)

  1. asbestos
Usage notes

When used as a standalone noun, the ishiwata reading appears to be more common.

When used in compounds, the sekimen reading appears to be more common.

Derived terms
Derived terms

Synonyms
  • アスベスト (asubesuto)
  • 石絨 (せきじゅう) (sekijū)
  • 温石棉 (おんじゃくめん) (onjakumen)

References
  1. 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
  2. 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
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