Translation guide
A being with both organic and mechanical parts. In Japanese, the loanword サイボーグ is standard, but related terms like 改造人間 (modified human) and アンドロイド (android) are also used depending on context.
A living organism with mechanical or electronic enhancements.
The direct loanword from English, widely understood in Japanese pop culture and science fiction.
Means 'mechanized human', less common but used in some older sci-fi contexts.
その小説には機械化人間が登場する。
A cyborg appears in that novel.
A being that is mostly mechanical but may have organic parts, often confused with androids.
サイボーグ (cyborg) is a living being with mechanical parts. アンドロイド (android) is a robot designed to look human. ロボット (robot) is a general mechanical device. In everyday Japanese, these terms are sometimes used loosely, but in technical contexts the distinction matters.
ターミネーターはサイボーグですか、アンドロイドですか？
Is the Terminator a cyborg or an android?
彼は事故でサイボーグになった。
He became a cyborg after an accident.
その映画の主人公はサイボーグだ。
The protagonist of that movie is a cyborg.
Literally 'modified human', often used in manga and anime for cyborgs or enhanced humans. Carries a slightly more sci-fi or dramatic tone.
彼は悪の組織に改造人間にされた。
He was turned into a cyborg by the evil organization.
While technically an android is fully mechanical, in casual Japanese it is sometimes used for humanoid cyborgs. Use with caution.
Strictly speaking, アンドロイド means a humanoid robot, not a cyborg. However, in pop culture the line is often blurred.
そのアンドロイドは人間の脳を持っている。
That android has a human brain.