Japanese word

殺菌

Pronunciation

Romajisakkin

Meaning

  • nounsterilization

Example

牛乳は熱で殺菌されます。gyū nyū wa netsu de sak kin sa re ma su

Milk is sterilized with heat.

Illustration for 殺菌 (sterilization)

More examples

調理器具は、使用後に殺菌が必要です。chō ri ki gu wa shi yō go ni sak kin ga hitsu yō de su

Cooking utensils need to be sterilized after use.

Core concept

Centers on killing microorganisms in a substance or on a surface, with the extent and method depending on the context.

Common phrases

  • 食品の殺菌shoku hin no sak kin

    food sterilization

  • 殺菌温度sak kin on do

    sterilization temperature

  • 殺菌処理sak kin sho ri

    sterilization process

Similar words

滅菌mekkin: The complete removal or destruction of microorganisms from an object, substance, or area.
消毒shōdoku: The reduction or destruction of harmful microorganisms on an object or surface.
除菌jokin: The reduction of microorganisms on an object or surface without requiring their complete removal.

Definition in Japanese

微生物を殺して、物質や器具などを清潔にし、腐敗や感染を防ぐこと。bi sei butsu o koro shi te bus shitsu ya ki gu na do o sei ketsu ni shi fu hai ya kan sen o fuse gu ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 殺菌 (sakkin, "sterilization") combines 殺 (satsu, "kill") and 菌 (kin, "germ").

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, sterilization is stronger than disinfection because it aims to remove all microorganisms, while pasteurization mainly lowers the number of harmful microbes.

Other meanings

  • disinfectionnoun
  • pasteurizationnoun

Related words

  • 殺菌性sakkinseibactericidal propertynoun
  • 殺菌剤sakkinzaidisinfectantnoun

Word lists with this word