Chinese

Noun

石綿

1. (chiefly Taiwan) Alternative form of 石棉 (shímián, “abestos”).

Japanese

Etymology 1

石綿 (ishiwata, sekimen): a mineral sample showing naturally occurring asbestos fibers.

Compound of 石 ‎(ishi, “stone”) +‎ 綿 ‎(wata, “cotton, batting”).^[1]

The first appearance of this term is unknown. The material was known in Japan at least as early as 1764, when Rangaku scholar Hiraga Gennai had asbestos cloth created based on Chinese techniques. However, he called this cloth 火浣布 ‎(kakanpu, literally “fire + wash + cloth”).^[1]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) いしわた [ìshíwátá] (Heiban - [0])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [iɕiɰᵝa̠ta̠]

Noun

石綿 ‎(hiragana いしわた, romaji ishiwata)

1. asbestos

Usage notes

When used as a standalone noun, the ishiwata reading appears to be more common.

When used in compounds, the sekimen reading appears to be more common.

Derived terms

Synonyms

• アスベスト ‎(asubesuto)
• (dated) 石絨 (せきじゅう) ‎(sekijū)
• (dated) 温石棉 (おんじゃくめん) ‎(onjakumen)

Etymology 2

May be a borrowing from Middle Chinese compound 石綿 ‎(dzyek miɛn, literally “stone + wool, cotton”). Compare modern Cantonese 石棉 ‎(sek⁶ min⁴).

Alternatively, may have been coined in Japan from Middle Chinese-derived elements as a compound of 石 ‎(seki, “stone”) +‎ 綿 ‎(men, “cotton, batting”).

Pronunciation

• On'yomi: Goon
• (Tokyo) め​ん [méꜜǹ] (Atamadaka - [1])^[2]
• IPA^(key): [mẽ̞ɴ]

Noun

石綿 ‎(hiragana せきめん, romaji sekimen)

1. asbestos

Usage notes

When used as a standalone noun, the ishiwata reading appears to be more common.

When used in compounds, the sekimen reading appears to be more common.

Derived terms

Synonyms

• アスベスト ‎(asubesuto)
• 石絨 (せきじゅう) ‎(sekijū)
• 温石棉 (おんじゃくめん) ‎(onjakumen)

References

1. 1 2 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
2. 1 2 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9