原子（げんし、genshi）
- atom

The Japanese word 原子 (げんし) means "atom." It refers to the basic unit of matter, consisting of a nucleus (protons and neutrons) and orbiting electrons. The word is used in various contexts related to physics, chemistry, and nuclear science. It is fundamental to understanding the composition of everything around us. It is a scientific term.

⚫︎原子の構造を学ぶ。 Translation: Learn about the structure of an atom. ⚫︎ この物質は原子からできている。 Translation: This substance is made of atoms. ⚫︎ 原子爆弾は破壊力が強い。 Translation: An atomic bomb has a strong destructive force.

This word is primarily used in scientific or technical contexts when discussing matter, chemistry, physics, and nuclear science. It can also appear in news reports or discussions related to atomic energy or nuclear weapons. It's generally not used in everyday casual conversation unless the topic specifically relates to the scientific understanding of matter. When referring to atom, it is almost always written in kanji 原子.

The word 原子 is typically written in kanji as 原子. The reading is げんし (genshi) in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word or variations in okurigana.

There aren't direct synonyms for 原子 itself in Japanese as it is a fundamental scientific term. However, related words or concepts might include: ⚫︎ 元素 (げんそ) - element ⚫︎ 分子 (ぶんし) - molecule ⚫︎ 物質 (ぶっしつ) - matter

There is no direct antonym for 原子. However, words related to breaking down or splitting atoms could be considered related opposites, such as: ⚫︎ 分裂 (ぶんれつ) - fission (of an atom) ⚫︎ 核融合 (かくゆうごう) - nuclear fusion

すべての物質は《原子で構成されています。》 ・Translation: All matter is composed of atoms. ・Explanation: This sentence provides a general scientific statement about the basic building blocks of all matter.

科学者は新しい《原子モデルを研究しています。》 ・Translation: Scientists are researching new atomic models. ・Explanation: This shows how 原子 is used in the context of scientific research.

The word 原子 is a Sino-Japanese word, meaning it was borrowed from Chinese. The Chinese characters (漢字) themselves convey the meaning: 原 (げん - gen) means "original" or "fundamental," and 子 (し - shi) means "child" or "unit," in this case, "particle." Thus, 原子 literally translates to "original particle" or "fundamental unit," reflecting the concept of the indivisible building blocks of matter.