Translation guide
The concept of contamination covers physical pollution, impurity, and tainting, as well as abstract corruption of ideas or data. Japanese uses different words depending on whether the focus is on environmental pollution, microbial contamination, impurity in a substance, or metaphorical corruption.
To refer to contamination of the natural environment by harmful substances.
Air contamination has become a serious problem.
The contamination of this river is caused by factory wastewater.
Refers specifically to pollution or environmental damage caused by human activity, often with legal or social implications. Commonly used in contexts like industrial pollution affecting public health.
The four major pollution-related diseases occurred during Japan's period of high economic growth.
To refer to contamination by bacteria, viruses, chemicals, or other harmful agents in food, medical settings, or on surfaces.
To refer to unwanted substances mixed into something, making it impure.
Means mixing in of foreign matter or impurities. Often used for physical objects or substances accidentally included.
The product was recalled because foreign matter had contaminated it.
Refers to impurities or contaminants as a noun. Often used in chemistry or when describing the quality of a substance.
To refer to the contamination of something non-physical, such as ideas, culture, data, or language, by undesirable elements.
Can be used metaphorically for abstract contamination, such as ideological or cultural pollution.
He is concerned about the contamination of young people's minds.
Also used for abstract mixing, such as errors or false data being mixed in.
Means corruption or depravity, often moral. Can be used for the contamination of character or values.
汚染 (おせん) is the general term for contamination, often implying harm or pollution. 混入 (こんにゅう) specifically means mixing in of foreign matter, and does not always imply harm (e.g., a prize mixed into a box of cereal). For harmful contamination, 汚染 is more common.
air pollution
contamination by foreign objects
While 汚染 covers many meanings, it is not used for contamination in the sense of 'cross-contamination of ideas' in casual speech. For data errors, 混入 is more natural. For moral corruption, consider 堕落 or 腐敗.
We sterilize surgical instruments to prevent contamination.
Loanword from English, used mainly in technical or laboratory settings. Often shortened to コンタミ.
The sample got contaminated during the experiment.
This water contains impurities.
データに誤りが混入していた。
Errors had contaminated the data.
権力の堕落は組織全体を汚染する。
The corruption of power contaminates the entire organization.