Translation guide
A substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.
nutrient
General term. Use 栄養 for 'nutrition' in everyday speech.
Referring to any substance that provides nourishment, such as in food, soil, or biology.
The standard, neutral term for a nutrient. Used in scientific, dietary, and everyday contexts.
Vegetables contain many nutrients.
This food is rich in nutrients.
Often translated as 'nutrition' or 'nourishment', but can also mean 'nutrient' in context. More common in everyday speech than 栄養素.
栄養 can be ambiguous; it often refers to nutrition in general rather than a specific nutrient. Use 栄養素 for clarity in scientific contexts.
This dish is full of nutrients.
Referring to a particular category of nutrient, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, or minerals.
Still the best general term, but can be combined with specific names.
Vitamins are one of the essential nutrients.
Often used for nutrients in soil or for plants. Can also be used for food in a slightly more technical or agricultural context.
A nutrient that the body cannot synthesize and must obtain from food.
The direct translation of 'essential nutrient'. Common in health and nutrition contexts.
A lack of essential nutrients can lead to illness.
Describing something as containing many nutrients.
栄養素 (eiyouso) is the precise term for 'nutrient', used in science and formal contexts. 栄養 (eiyou) is broader, meaning 'nutrition' or 'nourishment', but can sometimes be used for 'nutrient' in casual speech. 養分 (youbun) is often used for nutrients in soil or for plants, and can sound technical.
If you want to say 'good nutrition' or 'nutrition is important', use 栄養 (eiyou), not 栄養素. 栄養素 refers to the specific substances.
土に養分が足りない。
The soil lacks nutrients.