Translation guide
Cyanobacteria are a phylum of bacteria that obtain energy through photosynthesis. In Japanese, the most common term is ラン藻 (らんそう), but scientific and alternative names exist.
The most common and widely understood term for cyanobacteria in everyday and educational contexts.
This is the standard Japanese term for cyanobacteria, used in biology, environmental science, and general contexts. It is a compound of 'ラン' (from '藍', indigo) and '藻' (algae), reflecting their historical classification as blue-green algae.
ラン藻は光合成を行う細菌の一種です。
Cyanobacteria are a type of bacteria that perform photosynthesis.
There is a massive bloom of cyanobacteria in this pond.
Literally 'blue-green algae', this term is still used but is scientifically outdated because cyanobacteria are bacteria, not algae. It is common in older literature and some contexts.
藍藻は古い分類では藻類とされていました。
Blue-green algae were classified as algae in older taxonomies.
The direct loanword from English 'cyanobacteria'. It is used in scientific and technical contexts, especially in microbiology.
シアノバクテリアは酸素発生型光合成を行います。
Cyanobacteria perform oxygenic photosynthesis.
Used in academic papers, textbooks, and formal discussions where precise biological terminology is required.
Literally 'blue-colored bacteria', this is a direct translation of 'cyanobacteria' and is occasionally used in formal scientific writing, but it is less common than ラン藻 or シアノバクテリア.
藍色細菌は原核生物に分類されます。
Cyanobacteria are classified as prokaryotes.
ラン藻 is the standard modern term. 藍藻 is the older term meaning 'blue-green algae' and is less accurate. シアノバクテリア is the direct loanword used in technical contexts. For most purposes, use ラン藻.