Japanese word

有機

Pronunciation

Romajiyūki

Meaning

  • nounorganic

Example

この店では有機の野菜を売っています。ko no mise de wa yū ki no ya sai o u tte i ma su

This store sells organic vegetables.

Illustration for 有機 (organic)

More examples

この農家は有機肥料を使って土を大切にしています。ko no nō ka wa yū ki hi ryō o tsuka tte tsuchi o tai setsu ni shi te i ma su

This farmer uses organic fertilizer and takes good care of the soil.

Core concept

Relates to matter, growth, or production that arises from living systems and is contrasted with the inorganic.

Common phrases

  • 有機野菜yū ki ya sai

    organic vegetables

  • 有機食品yū ki shoku hin

    organic food

  • 有機農業yū ki nō gyō

    organic farming

Definition in Japanese

生物の体や働きに関係し、無機物とは区別されるもの。sei butsu no karada ya hatara ki ni kan kei shi mu ki butsu to wa ku betsu sa re ru mo no

Word origin

有機 (yūki) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 有 (yū, "have") and 機 (ki, "mechanism"), used in scientific terms connected with 有機体 (yūkītai), "organism".

Usage tips

  • The word organic has separate scientific and food-related uses in English, so organic chemistry refers to a field of chemistry rather than farming practices.

Opposites

  • 無機mukiinorganicnoun

Related words

  • 有機的yūkitekiorganicna-adjective
  • 有機性yūkiseiorganic naturenoun

Word lists with this word