炭鉱
たんこう · tankou · JLPT N2 · noun
coal mine
⛏️ 炭 (charcoal/coal) + 鉱 (ore/mine) = a mine that yields coal
炭 means coal or charcoal, and 鉱 means ore or mine. Together they name a place where coal is dug out of the ground.
炭 — mountain 山 + cliff 厂 + fire 火
炭 depicts charcoal produced by burning wood from the mountainside. The top combines 山 (mountain) and 厂 (cliff/slope), suggesting the hillside source of timber, while 火 (fire) below shows the burning process. The original meaning was charcoal, later extended to coal and carbon.