煤炭

• Pinyin: méi tàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 煤 = 火 (fire) + 某 (phonetic) — coal; 炭 = 山 (mountain) + 灰 (ash/fire) — charcoal, carbon fuel

Meaning

Coal; the fossil fuel used for energy and industrial processes.

The general term for coal as a commodity and energy resource. Distinct from 煤矿 (the physical mine) — 煤炭 refers to the substance itself. Appears frequently in energy policy, environmental, economic, and trade contexts. China's coal industry is the backbone of its power generation and heavy industry.

Examples

1. 煤炭长期以来是中国最主要的能源来源，在电力生产中占据举足轻重的地位。 For a long time, coal has been China’s main energy source and plays a crucial role in power generation.
2. 国际社会呼吁各国逐步减少煤炭的使用，以应对日益严峻的全球气候变化危机。 The international community is calling on countries to gradually reduce coal use in response to the increasingly severe global climate crisis.
3. 受产地供应紧张影响，煤炭价格大幅上涨，对下游的钢铁和化工行业造成了较大冲击。 Tight supply at the source drove coal prices up sharply, causing a major shock to downstream steel and chemical industries.

Usage Guide

Context: energy, industry, environment, trade

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 为实现碳达峰目标，国家正在有序推进煤炭消费总量控制，逐步向清洁能源转型。(In order to achieve peak carbon emissions, the country is steadily advancing overall controls on coal consumption and gradually transitioning to clean energy.)
• 煤炭的大量燃烧是造成大气污染和温室气体排放的主要因素之一，减排压力巨大。(The large-scale burning of coal is one of the main factors contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, placing enormous pressure on emissions reduction efforts.)

Don't Say

• 将'煤炭'与'煤矿'互换使用 — 煤炭指燃料物质本身，煤矿指开采煤炭的地点或设施 (Don't use 煤炭 and 煤矿 interchangeably — 煤炭 refers to the fuel substance itself, while 煤矿 refers to the site or facility where coal is extracted)

Origin & History

煤 (coal) + 炭 (charcoal, carbon, from 山 mountain + 灰 ash). Together emphasising coal as a carbon-based fuel.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal