Japanese Conversation · Level 118
60 words
Japanese word
細菌
Pronunciation
Romajisaikin
Meaning
- nounbacteria
Example
手を洗うと、細菌を減らせます。te o ara u to sai kin o he ra se ma su
Washing your hands can reduce bacteria.
More examples
この食品は細菌の増殖を抑えます。ko no shoku hin wa sai kin no zō shoku o osa e ma su
This food inhibits the growth of bacteria.
Core concept
Describes tiny living organisms made up of one cell that can interact with other living things in beneficial, neutral, or harmful ways.
Common phrases
細菌を減らすsai kin o he ra su
reduce bacteria
細菌を検出するsai kin o ken shutsu su ru
detect bacteria
Similar words
バクテリアbakuteria: A loanword that refers to bacteria in both casual and scientific language.
Definition in Japanese
一つの細胞から成り、増殖する微生物の総称。hito tsu no sai bō ka ra na ri zō shoku su ru bi sei butsu no sō shō
Word origin
細菌 (saikin) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 細 (sai, "small") and 菌 (kin, "fungus" or "microorganism"), giving the word its small-organism sense.
Usage tips
- English speakers often use germ for bacteria, but germ may also refer to viruses and other causes of disease, making it a wider term.
Other meanings
- germnoun
Related words
- 細菌性saikinseibacterialpre-noun adjectival