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I'm just a beginner. I think all of them meaning the same, rock. Can anyone
explain it for me?
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2015-09-29T02:13:08.990
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2018-05-04T22:51:49.793
2018-05-04T22:51:49.793
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word-choice wago-and-kango
What is the difference between 石{いし}、岩{いわ} and 岩石{がんせき}?
* 石【いし】: stone, typically of a few centimeters in size
  * 岩【いわ】: rock, typically of a few meters or more in size
  * 岩石【がんせき】: stones and rocks.

Another important difference is that, as a [Sino-Japanese
word](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Japanese_vocabulary), 岩石 sounds
technical, and used as an academic term for
[rock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_\(geology\)) in general. In everyday
conversations, 石 and 岩 are commonly used.
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2015-09-29T02:53:17.903
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2015-09-29T02:53:17.903
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answer
According to Japanese dictionary, although it is written about various things
in detail, I have an image like an attached file. In short, "石" is small, 岩
and 岩石 are big.

Hope it helps. [![enter image description
here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/W9t8C.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/W9t8C.jpg)
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2015-09-29T04:14:34.397
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answer