Translation guide
The English word 'clone' can refer to a biological copy, a technological duplicate, or the act of copying. In Japanese, the borrowed word クローン is widely used, but native terms exist for specific contexts.
Referring to an organism or cell produced asexually from one ancestor, genetically identical to it.
The most common and direct translation, used in scientific and everyday contexts.
この羊はクローンです。
This sheep is a clone.
Literally 'clone organism', used in formal or scientific writing to be explicit.
クローン生物の研究が進んでいる。
Research on cloned organisms is advancing.
A computer, phone, or program that functions identically to another, often a cheaper imitation.
Used for hardware or software clones, especially in tech contexts.
このスマホはiPhoneのクローンだ。
This smartphone is an iPhone clone.
Specifically refers to compatible hardware, like a PC clone. Common in computing history.
Means 'copy product', often with a nuance of counterfeit or knock-off. Use carefully.
それはブランド品のコピー品です。
That's a clone of a brand-name item.
Informally describing someone who looks or acts exactly like another person.
A common, casual term for a look-alike. Not a literal clone, but used for striking resemblance.
彼は有名俳優のそっくりさんだ。
He's a clone of a famous actor.
Literally 'living copy', used for a person who is the spitting image of someone else. Slightly more emphatic.
娘は母親の生き写しだ。
The daughter is a clone of her mother.
The process of making an identical copy, especially in biology or technology.
The most natural way to say 'to clone' as a verb phrase. Use 作る for creating a clone.
科学者が羊のクローンを作った。
Scientists cloned a sheep.
The verb 'to clone' borrowed from English, used in technical contexts.
遺伝子をクローニングする技術。
Technology for cloning genes.
General verb for 'to duplicate' or 'to replicate', used for documents, data, or organisms.
DNAを複製する。
To clone DNA.
Calling someone a クローン in Japanese sounds like a sci-fi clone, not a look-alike. Use そっくりさん or 生き写し for resemblance.
彼は兄のそっくりさんだ。
He's a clone of his brother.
IBM PC clones dominated the market.
Literally 'clone human', used in sci-fi or exaggerated comparisons. Not for everyday resemblance.
まるでクローン人間みたいに似ている。
They look so alike, like human clones.