Lesson L11N2N2 Kanji in Context⏱ 25 min

Nature and Resource Kanji

This lesson focuses on kanji for elements like wood, fire, water, earth, and natural resources such as coal, oil, and minerals. Each kanji is presented with its on'yomi and kun'yomi, common vocabulary, and sample sentences to reinforce usage in real-world contexts.

🎯 Goal: Learn N2 kanji related to nature and resource in context.

Lesson Content

Learning Goal

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to read and understand 8 N2-level kanji related to nature and resources in context. You will learn their core meanings, common readings, and how they appear in real Japanese sentences.

Concept

Nature and resource kanji often describe the environment, raw materials, and energy. These characters appear in news, reports, and everyday conversation about the world around us. Understanding them helps you discuss topics like energy, mining, forests, and the ocean with confidence.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. 資源 (shigen) – Resources

資 (shi) – resources, capital, material
源 (gen) – source, origin

Together, 資源 means "natural resources" or "resources" in a broad sense.

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
資	resources, capital	シ (shi)	–
源	source, origin	ゲン (gen)	みなもと (minamoto)

Example:
日本は資源が少ない国です。
Nihon wa shigen ga sukunai kuni desu.
Japan is a country with few natural resources.

2. 森林 (shinrin) – Forest

森 (shin) – forest, grove
林 (rin) – woods, grove

Together, 森林 means "forest" (a large wooded area).

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
森	forest	シン (shin)	もり (mori)
林	woods	リン (rin)	はやし (hayashi)

Example:
この地域には広い森林が広がっている。
Kono chiiki ni wa hiroi shinrin ga hirogatte iru.
A vast forest spreads across this region.

3. 海洋 (kaiyō) – Ocean

海 (kai) – sea, ocean
洋 (yō) – ocean, western style

Together, 海洋 means "ocean" (especially in scientific or formal contexts).

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
海	sea	カイ (kai)	うみ (umi)
洋	ocean	ヨウ (yō)	–

Example:
海洋汚染が深刻な問題になっている。
Kaiyō osen ga shinkoku na mondai ni natte iru.
Ocean pollution is becoming a serious problem.

4. 鉱山 (kōzan) – Mine

鉱 (kō) – mineral, ore
山 (zan) – mountain

Together, 鉱山 means "mine" (where minerals are extracted).

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
鉱	mineral	コウ (kō)	–
山	mountain	サン (san)	やま (yama)

Example:
この地域には古い鉱山がある。
Kono chiiki ni wa furui kōzan ga aru.
There is an old mine in this area.

5. 石油 (sekiyu) – Petroleum / Oil

石 (seki) – stone
油 (yu) – oil

Together, 石油 means "petroleum" or "crude oil."

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
石	stone	セキ (seki)	いし (ishi)
油	oil	ユ (yu)	あぶら (abura)

Example:
日本は石油のほとんどを輸入している。
Nihon wa sekiyu no hotondo o yunyū shite iru.
Japan imports most of its oil.

6. 天然 (tennen) – Natural

天 (ten) – heaven, sky
然 (nen) – nature, as it is

Together, 天然 means "natural" (as in natural phenomena or natural products).

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
天	heaven	テン (ten)	あめ (ame)
然	nature	ネン (nen)	–

Example:
この地域は天然ガスが豊富だ。
Kono chiiki wa tennen gasu ga hōfu da.
This region is rich in natural gas.

7. 太陽 (taiyō) – Sun

太 (tai) – big, thick
陽 (yō) – sun, sunlight

Together, 太陽 means "the sun."

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
太	big	タイ (tai)	ふと.い (futoi)
陽	sun	ヨウ (yō)	ひ (hi)

Example:
太陽エネルギーは再生可能な資源です。
Taiyō enerugī wa saisei kanō na shigen desu.
Solar energy is a renewable resource.

8. 風力 (fūryoku) – Wind Power

風 (fū) – wind
力 (ryoku) – power, strength

Together, 風力 means "wind power."

Kanji	Meaning	On’yomi	Kun’yomi
風	wind	フウ (fū)	かぜ (kaze)
力	power	リョク (ryoku)	ちから (chikara)

Example:
風力発電所が海岸に建設された。
Fūryoku hatsudensho ga kaigan ni kensetsu sareta.
A wind power plant was built on the coast.

Mini Examples

この国は資源が豊富だ。
Kono kuni wa shigen ga hōfu da.
This country is rich in resources.
森林を守ることが大切だ。
Shinrin o mamoru koto ga taisetsu da.
Protecting forests is important.
海洋の温度が上昇している。
Kaiyō no ondo ga jōshō shite iru.
Ocean temperatures are rising.
鉱山労働者は危険な仕事をする。
Kōzan rōdōsha wa kiken na shigoto o suru.
Mine workers do dangerous jobs.

Common Mistake

Mistake: Confusing 森林 (shinrin) with 林 (hayashi) alone.

林 (hayashi) = a small woods or grove
森林 (shinrin) = a large forest

Tip: Remember that 森 has three trees (木), so it’s bigger than 林 which has two.

Mistake: Mixing up 石油 (sekiyu) and 天然 (tennen).

石油 = petroleum (a specific resource)
天然 = natural (an adjective describing something from nature)

Quick Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct kanji from this lesson.

日本は___源が少ない。
(Japan has few resources.)
この___林はとても古い。
(This forest is very old.)
___油の価格が上がった。
(The price of oil went up.)
___力発電は環境に優しい。
(Wind power generation is environmentally friendly.)

Answers:

Summary and Next Step

You have learned 8 N2 kanji related to nature and resources:
資源 (resources), 森林 (forest), 海洋 (ocean), 鉱山 (mine), 石油 (petroleum), 天然 (natural), 太陽 (sun), 風力 (wind power).

Next step: Practice reading these kanji in news articles or environmental reports. Try to find 2-3 sentences that use any of these kanji and write them down with readings and translations.