The Kanji: 薪 (Shin / Maki)
The kanji 薪 means "firewood" or "fuel wood." It combines 艹 (grass/plants) with 新 (new), originally depicting freshly cut wood for burning. This character specifically refers to wood prepared for use as fuel.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 薪 (maki) - Firewood
薪を割ってストーブに使う。
"Split firewood for the stove."
2. 薪割り (makiwari) - Wood splitting
祖父は薪割りが得意だ。
"My grandfather is good at splitting wood."
3. 薪ストーブ (maki sutōbu) - Wood stove
薪ストーブで部屋を暖める。
"Heat the room with a wood stove."
4. 薪能 (takiginō) - Open-air Noh performance
秋に薪能を観に行く。
"Go see an open-air Noh performance in autumn."
In summary, 薪 specifically describes firewood and related concepts - from the wood itself (薪) and its preparation (薪割り) to heating appliances (薪ストーブ) and traditional cultural events (薪能). It maintains strong connections to traditional Japanese life.