原子力（げんしりょく、genshiryoku）
- nuclear power

The Japanese word 原子力, pronounced げんしりょく (genshiryoku), translates to "nuclear power" or "atomic energy" in English. It refers to the energy released from the nucleus of an atom, particularly through nuclear fission or fusion. This energy can be harnessed for various purposes, most notably to generate electricity. This term encompasses the science, technology, and applications associated with nuclear energy, including nuclear reactors, nuclear weapons (though the term itself doesn't inherently imply weapons), and related fields. 原子力 is a significant and often debated topic in Japan and globally, due to its potential benefits and risks. ⚫︎It's important to understand that the concept of 原子力 includes not only power generation but also the entire spectrum of nuclear-related technologies and their implications. ⚫︎ It is usually used in a technical context.

⚫︎原子力発電所 Translation: Nuclear power plant ⚫︎原子力の平和利用 Translation: Peaceful uses of nuclear energy ⚫︎原子力の専門家 Translation: Nuclear energy expert

原子力 is used in formal and technical contexts when discussing nuclear energy, its applications, or related policies. It's common in news reports, scientific articles, and official government communications. You would use 原子力 when you talk about nuclear power plants, the development of nuclear technology, or discussions about the pros and cons of nuclear energy. Because of its sensitive nature, casual conversation about 原子力 would be rare.

⚫︎ The word is written in Kanji as 原子力. ⚫︎ The reading, げんしりょく, uses Hiragana. ⚫︎ There is only one standard way to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

⚫︎ 核エネルギー (kaku enerugī): Nuclear energy (a more general term) ⚫︎ 原子エネルギー (genshi enerugī): Atomic energy (another way to say nuclear energy). This term is less common.

There aren't direct antonyms, but you could consider terms that represent alternative energy sources: ⚫︎ 再生可能エネルギー (saisei kanō enerugī): Renewable energy (solar, wind, etc.) ⚫︎ 化石燃料 (kaseki nenryō): Fossil fuels

日本は、安全な原子力の利用を目指しています。 ・Translation: Japan aims for the safe use of nuclear power. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 原子力 in the context of government policy and goals. It highlights the focus on the safe operation of nuclear facilities.

原子力発電は、二酸化炭素排出量が少ないエネルギー源の一つです。 ・Translation: Nuclear power generation is one of the energy sources with low carbon dioxide emissions. ・Explanation: Here, 原子力 is presented in the context of its environmental impact, specifically in relation to the emission of carbon dioxide.

The word 原子力 is a compound word. It is a combination of 原子 (genshi), meaning "atom," and 力 (ryoku), meaning "power" or "force." Therefore, 原子力 literally translates to "atomic power." This construction is a typical way to create technical terms in Japanese, combining elements to form a concise and informative word.