石油

• Reading: せきゆ
• Romaji: sekiyu
• Kanji breakdown: 石 (seki) — stone, rock; 油 (yu) — oil
• Pronunciation: /se.ki.jɯ/

Meaning

Oil; petroleum; kerosene. Fossil fuel extracted from the earth.

A noun covering petroleum products broadly. In daily life, 石油 often refers specifically to kerosene used in portable heaters (石油ストーブ), which are common in Japanese homes during winter. In broader contexts, it means crude oil or petroleum. Japan imports nearly all its oil.

Examples

1. 冬になると石油ストーブを使う家庭が多い。 Many households use kerosene heaters in winter.
2. 石油の価格が上がって生活が厳しい。 Rising oil prices are making life tough.
3. 日本は石油をほとんど輸入に頼っている。 Japan depends on imports for almost all of its oil.

Usage Guide

Context: energy, economics, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 石 (stone, rock) and 油 (oil). Literally 'rock oil,' a direct translation of the Latin 'petroleum' (petra = rock + oleum = oil).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal