Japanese Conversation · Level 70
75 words
Japanese word
精子
Pronunciation
Romajiseishi
Meaning
- nounsperm
Example
精子は卵子まで泳ぎます。sei shi wa ran shi ma de oyo gi ma su
Sperm swim to the egg.
More examples
検査では精子の運動性も確認されます。ken sa de wa sei shi no un dō sei mo kaku nin sa re ma su
Sperm motility is also checked during the examination.
Core concept
Names the male reproductive cell that moves toward an egg and can unite with it to begin fertilization.
Common phrases
精子の数sei shi no kazu
sperm count
精子の運動性sei shi no un dō sei
sperm motility
精子を提供するsei shi o tei kyō su ru
donate sperm
Similar words
精虫seichū: A sperm cell, especially in older or formal scientific usage.
Definition in Japanese
男性の生殖器官で作られ、卵子と結合することで受精を成立させる細胞。dan sei no sei shoku ki kan de tsuku ra re ran shi to ketsu gō su ru ko to de ju sei o sei ritsu sa se ru sai bō
Word origin
The word 精子 (seishi) uses the on-yomi readings 精 (sei, "essence") and 子 (shi, "child") in a Sino-Japanese compound for sperm.
Usage tips
- In scientific English, sperm is distinguished from semen, which is the fluid that carries sperm cells.