What is the difference between 鋼{はがね} and 鋼鉄{こうてつ} (two ways to say "steel")?


From Jisho.org, both 鋼{はがね} and 鋼鉄{こうてつ} mean steel. Are there any differences
between them?




They're different just in scope of "語彙":

  1. 鋼{はがね} is wago (和語) form which uses kun-yomi reading of the kanji, it's originally derived from other word with same pronunciation: 刃金 (metal blade). Here is an explanation about 刃金 (note the emphasized sentence part):

> 刃金は、刃物の刃先に用いる金属のこと。かつては刃金もしくは釼の一字で、 **鋼と同じように使われていた。**
> 刃物の刃先は鋭角になればなるほど切れ味が良くなる。

The fact behind this is that steel is a commonly used material to make sharp
blades (used in knives, swords, etc.) in ancient times, due to its sharpness
as cutting edge. Since 刃金 itself is also read in kun-yomi we can tell that the
meaning is associated with 鋼.

  2. 鋼鉄{コウテツ} is kango (漢語) form which uses on-yomi reading for both kanjis, it's derived from the Chinese term "鋼鐵". "鉄" exists here to give emphasis into meaning by implicitly mentioning "steel is made of iron". This is true due to steel being an alloy of iron as base metal & another elements giving a large tensile of strength.




They're different just in scope of "語彙":

  1. 鋼{はがね} is wago (和語) form which uses kun-yomi reading of the kanji, it's originally derived from other word with same pronunciation: 刃金 (metal blade). Here is an explanation about 刃金 (note the emphasized sentence part):

> 刃金は、刃物の刃先に用いる金属のこと。かつては刃金もしくは釼の一字で、 **鋼と同じように使われていた。**
> 刃物の刃先は鋭角になればなるほど切れ味が良くなる。

The fact behind this is that steel is a commonly used material to make sharp
blades (used in knives, swords, etc.) in ancient times, due to its sharpness
as cutting edge. Since 刃金 itself is also read in kun-yomi we can tell that the
meaning is associated with 鋼.

  2. 鋼鉄{コウテツ} is kango (漢語) form which uses on-yomi reading for both kanjis, it's derived from the Chinese term "鋼鐵". "鉄" exists here to give emphasis into meaning by implicitly mentioning "steel is made of iron". This is true due to steel being an alloy of iron as base metal & another elements giving a large tensile of strength.

