Japanese word

分子

Pronunciation

Romajibunshi

Meaning

  • nounmolecule

Example

分子は原子からできています。bun shi wa gen shi ka ra de ki te i ma su

Molecules are made of atoms.

Illustration for 分子 (molecule)

More examples

水を温めると、分子の動きが速くなります。mizu o atata me ru to bun shi no ugo ki ga haya ku na ri ma su

When water is heated, the molecules move faster.

Core concept

Refers to one part that forms a larger whole, including a bonded atomic unit and the number above the line in a fraction.

Common phrases

  • 分子の構造bun shi no kō zō

    molecular structure

  • 分子の動きbun shi no ugo ki

    molecular motion

  • 分子の模型bun shi no mo kei

    molecular model

Definition in Japanese

原子が結び付いてできた、物質の性質を保つ最小単位。gen shi ga musu bi tsu i te de ki ta bus shitsu no sei shitsu o tamo tsu sai shō tan i

Word origin

分子 (bunshi) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 分 (bun, "part") and 子 (shi, "child"); its two meanings are separate uses of the same term, not one meaning derived from the other.

Usage tips

  • A Japanese science conversation and a mathematics conversation may use 分子 (bunshi) differently, so the surrounding topic identifies which meaning is intended.

Other meanings

  • numeratornoun

Related words

  • 分子的bunshitekimolecularna-adjective

Word lists with this word