Translation guide
A substance that makes something impure or unsafe. In Japanese, the most common word is 汚染物質, but depending on context, other terms like 不純物 or 混入物 may be more natural.
A harmful substance in air, water, soil, etc.
The standard term for environmental pollutants or contaminants. Used in scientific, technical, and everyday contexts.
Harmful contaminants were released from the factory.
This river contains many contaminants.
A slightly shorter form of 汚染物質, often used in similar contexts but can sound a bit more formal or technical.
Measure contaminants in the atmosphere.
An unwanted substance mixed into something pure, like food, drugs, or materials.
Refers to impurities or foreign matter in a substance. Common in contexts like food safety, chemistry, and manufacturing.
This product contained contaminants (impurities).
Literally 'mixed-in thing'. Used when a foreign substance accidentally gets into something. Often used in food contamination incidents.
Technical term for impurities or foreign matter, often used in scientific or industrial contexts. Less common in everyday speech.
Bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that contaminate something.
Radioactive substances that contaminate an area or object.
汚染物質 is used for environmental or large-scale contamination (pollution), while 不純物 is more about impurities within a substance, like in food or chemicals. 混入物 emphasizes that something accidentally got mixed in.
The English word 'contaminant' is often translated directly as 汚染物質, but in many contexts a more specific term like 不純物 or 混入物 is more natural. Consider what is being contaminated and how.
Filter to remove contaminants.
Contamination of food with foreign objects became a problem.
We are investigating the identity of the contaminant.
Remove contaminants from the sample.
Pathogenic contaminants were detected in the well water.
Radioactive material; often used when the contaminant is specifically radioactive, but can also refer to any radioactive substance.
Radioactive contaminants were removed from the soil.