Translation guide
The academic study of human societies, cultures, and their development. In Japanese, the field is most commonly referred to as 人類学, with specific subfields like cultural anthropology (文化人類学) and physical anthropology (自然人類学) distinguished.
人類学
anthropology
Referring to anthropology as a whole, the study of humanity.
The standard term for anthropology in academic and general contexts.
彼は大学で人類学を専攻している。
He is majoring in anthropology at university.
The branch focusing on human cultures, customs, and social structures.
Specifically cultural anthropology, often what people mean by 'anthropology' in everyday English.
文化人類学の授業で異文化について学んだ。
I learned about different cultures in my cultural anthropology class.
The branch focusing on human evolution, genetics, and biological variation.
Physical or biological anthropology, sometimes called 形質人類学 (けいしつじんるいがく) in older contexts.
自然人類学では人類の進化を研究する。
Physical anthropology studies human evolution.
The British tradition emphasizing social structures, often synonymous with cultural anthropology.
Used mainly in British-influenced contexts; in Japan, 文化人類学 is more common.
イギリスでは社会人類学が盛んだ。
Social anthropology is prominent in the UK.