Japanese word

ビールス

Pronunciation

Romajibīrusu

Meaning

  • nounvirus

Example

そのビールスは人から人へ広がります。so no bī ru su wa hito ka ra hito e hiro ga ri ma su

That virus spreads from person to person.

Illustration for ビールス (virus)

More examples

手洗いは、ビールスの広がりを防ぐ基本的な方法です。te ara i wa bī ru su no hiro ga ri o fuse gu ki hon teki na hō hō de su

Handwashing is a basic way to prevent a virus from spreading.

Core concept

Means a tiny infectious agent whose activity depends on entering a host cell and producing new particles there.

Common phrases

  • ビールスの感染を防ぐbī ru su no kan sen o fuse gu

    prevent infection by a virus

  • ビールスを調べるbī ru su o shira be ru

    examine a virus

Similar words

ウイルスuirusu: The common modern Japanese term for a tiny infectious agent that reproduces inside a host cell.
病毒byōdoku: A formal term for a virus, often used in scientific or medical writing.

Definition in Japanese

宿主の細胞に侵入してその働きを利用し、増殖する微小な病原体。shuku shu no sai bō ni shin nyū shi te so no hatara ki o ri yō shi zō shoku su ru bi shō na byō gen tai

Word origin

The noun ビールス (bīrusu) reflects the German form Virus and ultimately comes from Latin virus, meaning "poisonous substance".

Usage tips

  • ビールス (bīrusu) appears in older Japanese usage, whereas ウイルス (uirusu) is the form learners are more likely to encounter in current Japanese.

Word lists with this word