Translation guide
The English word "cell" covers several distinct concepts. This guide breaks them down by meaning: biological cell, small room (prison/monastery), battery cell, and cell in a grid/organization.
The smallest structural unit of an organism, or a small group of people working together.
The standard term for a biological cell. Used in biology, medicine, and everyday contexts.
The human body is made up of about 37 trillion cells.
We observed the process of cell division under a microscope.
Loanword from English, used in some technical or brand contexts, but less common than 細胞 for biology. Often used in compound terms like 'cell phone' or 'fuel cell'.
This cosmetic activates stem cells.
Also used metaphorically for a small organizational unit, like a terrorist cell or a party cell.
The police uncovered a terrorist cell.
A small, often bare room for a prisoner, monk, or nun.
Specifically a prison cell, a solitary confinement room. Use this for jail/prison contexts.
The prisoner spent days of reflection in his cell.
Another word for prison cell, slightly more formal or literary.
A monk's or nun's cell in a monastery. Very specific religious context.
A private room in general, not specifically a prison cell. Can be used for a small, simple room, but lacks the connotation of confinement.
Not a direct equivalent for 'prison cell'; use only when the context is a small private room, not a place of imprisonment.
A single unit that produces electricity in a battery.
General word for battery, but can refer to a single cell. Often used in compounds like 乾電池 (dry cell) or 単一電池 (single cell).
This remote requires two AA cells.
Technical term for a battery cell, used in engineering contexts. Also appears in 燃料電池セル (fuel cell).
Literally 'single battery', a technical term for a single electrochemical cell.
The voltage of a single cell is about 1.5 volts.
A small unit in a larger structure, like a spreadsheet cell, a honeycomb cell, or a small organizational unit.
Standard term for a cell in a spreadsheet, table, or grid. Also used for honeycomb cells.
Please enter the formula into the Excel cell.
The cells of a beehive are hexagonal.
Means 'square' or 'box', often used for cells in a grid, crossword puzzle, or game board. More casual than セル.
A section or compartment, used for larger divisions like a grid square on a map or a partitioned area.
Use 細胞 for almost all biological contexts. セル is a loanword that appears in some compound terms (e.g., 幹細胞セル) but can sound unnatural if used alone. Stick with 細胞 for clarity.
The English 'cell' in 'cell phone' is not translated as 細胞 or 独房. The Japanese term is 携帯電話 (けいたいでんわ) or simply 携帯 (けいたい). Do not use セルフォン, which is not standard.
The prisoner was locked in a cell.
Stem cells can develop into many different cell types.
Please select the cell in the spreadsheet.
監房の中は薄暗く、湿気が多かった。
The cell was dim and damp.
He quietly prayed in his cell.
彼は自分の個室にこもって勉強した。
He shut himself in his small room and studied.
This battery consists of six cells.
Fill in the crossword cells.
Divide the map into one-kilometer cells.