Translation guide
A specialized subunit within a cell that has a specific function. In Japanese, the term is usually translated directly, but understanding the common naming patterns helps learners recognize and form these words.
The learner wants to refer to any organelle in a biological context.
The learner needs to name a particular organelle.
Many organelles have both a katakana loanword and a kanji-based term. The katakana is often more common in everyday scientific communication, while the kanji term appears in formal writing.
ミトコンドリア（糸粒体）はエネルギーを作ります。
Mitochondria produce energy.
Many Japanese organelle names end in 〜体 (たい, 'body'), such as 糸粒体 (しりゅうたい, mitochondrion), 核糖体 (かくとうたい, ribosome), or 中心体 (ちゅうしんたい, centrosome). Recognizing this pattern can help you guess the meaning of unfamiliar terms.
The standard, formal term used in biology and medicine. Literally 'cell small organ'.
ミトコンドリアは細胞小器官の一つです。
Mitochondria are one type of organelle.
Katakana loanword from English, common in scientific contexts but less formal than 細胞小器官.
オルガネラの機能を研究しています。
I am researching the functions of organelles.
Proteins are synthesized at ribosomes.