Translation guide
The English word 'degeneracy' can refer to moral decline, a state of decay, or a technical term in physics and mathematics. This guide covers how to express these meanings in Japanese, from common words for moral corruption to specialized scientific terms.
Expressing a decline in moral standards, often in society or an individual.
Refers to decadence, moral decay, or degeneracy, often in a cultural or societal context.
That era was marked by increasing moral degeneracy.
Means corruption, depravity, or falling into a degenerate state. Often used for personal moral decline.
He leads a degenerate life of drinking and gambling.
A variant of 退廃, also meaning decadence or degeneracy, but less common.
A degenerate culture.
Describing a condition of decline, deterioration, or loss of normal qualities.
Means degeneration or regression, often used in biological or functional contexts, but can also refer to a general decline.
Unused muscles degenerate.
Means alteration or degeneration, often implying a change for the worse in character or quality.
Referring to the scientific concept where different states have the same energy level, or where multiple configurations yield the same outcome.
Referring to the redundancy in genetic code where multiple codons encode the same amino acid.
Specifically refers to the degeneracy of the genetic code.
The degeneracy of the genetic code mitigates the effects of mutations.
Direct translations like 'degeneracy' as a noun can sound unnatural. Use words like 退廃 or 堕落, which are more idiomatic for moral contexts.
退廃 (taihai) often describes cultural or societal decadence, while 堕落 (daraku) is more about personal moral corruption or depravity.
組織の変質が問題になっている。
The degeneracy of the organization has become a problem.