What is the difference between 石{いし}、岩{いわ} and 岩石{がんせき}?

Question

I'm just a beginner. I think all of them meaning the same, rock. Can anyone explain it for me?

Answer 1

• 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, 岩石 sounds technical, and used as an academic term for rock in general. In everyday conversations, 石 and 岩 are commonly used.

Answer 2

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.