Japanese word

代謝

Pronunciation

Romajitaisha

Meaning

  • nounmetabolism

Example

運動は代謝を高めます。un dō wa tai sha o taka me ma su

Exercise boosts metabolism.

Illustration for 代謝 (metabolism)

More examples

十分に眠ることも、健康な代謝を保つために大切です。jū bun ni nemu ru ko to mo ken kō na tai sha o tamo tsu ta me ni tai setsu de su

Getting enough sleep is also important for maintaining a healthy metabolism.

Core concept

Refers to the continual chemical activity through which a living body changes substances and obtains or stores energy.

Common phrases

  • 代謝が上がるtai sha ga a ga ru

    metabolism increases

  • 代謝が落ちるtai sha ga o chi ru

    metabolism slows

  • 代謝を上げるtai sha o a ge ru

    increase metabolism

Similar words

新陳代謝shinchintaisha: The ongoing replacement of old substances with new ones in a living body.

Definition in Japanese

生物が物質を分解したり合成したりして、生命活動に必要なエネルギーを得る仕組み。sei butsu ga bus shitsu o bun kai shi ta ri gō sei shi ta ri shi te sei mei katsu dō ni hitsu yō na e ne ru gī o e ru shi ku mi

Word origin

代謝 (taisha, "metabolism") is a Sino-Japanese compound of 代 (tai, "replace") and 謝 (sha, "decline or fade"), suggesting substances being replaced as others disappear.

Usage tips

  • English speakers often use metabolism when discussing body weight, but the word refers to the body's wider chemical processing, not only the burning of food.

Related words

  • 代謝するtaishasurumetabolizeverb

Word lists with this word