Japanese word

増殖

Pronunciation

Romajizōshoku

Meaning

  • nounproliferation

Example

この薬は細菌の増殖を防ぎます。ko no kusuri wa sai kin no zō shoku o fuse gi ma su

This medicine prevents the proliferation of bacteria.

Illustration for 増殖 (proliferation)

More examples

温度が上がると、微生物が活発に増殖します。on do ga a ga ru to bi sei butsu ga kap patsu ni zō shoku shi ma su

As the temperature rises, microorganisms multiply rapidly.

Core concept

Refers to the repeated increase of cells, organisms, or other things, often until they spread widely.

Common phrases

  • 細胞の増殖sai bō no zō shoku

    cell proliferation

  • 増殖を抑制するzō shoku o yoku sei su ru

    suppress proliferation

Similar words

繁殖hanshoku: The production of new organisms through reproduction, causing their number to grow.
増加zōka: A rise in the amount or number of something.
急増kyūzō: A rapid and often substantial rise in the amount or number of something.

Definition in Japanese

細胞や微生物などが盛んに増えること。sai bō ya bi sei butsu na do ga saka n ni fu e ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 増殖 (zōshoku) combines 増 (zō, "increase") and 殖 (shoku, "multiply"), expressing an increase through multiplication.

Usage tips

  • In English, cell proliferation is a standard biology phrase, while proliferation of products or ideas describes their rapid spread through society.

Other meanings

  • multiplicationnoun
  • propagationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 増殖力zōshokuryokuproliferative capacitynoun

Word lists with this word