sperm; spermatozoon
Biological term for a male reproductive cell. Used in medical, scientific, and everyday contexts.
Sperm fertilizes an egg and new life begins.
He is looking into sperm donation.
He donated sperm for fertility treatment.
Fertilization occurs when sperm unites with an egg.
I had a test done to check my sperm count.
精子 refers to the individual sperm cells, whereas 精液 is the seminal fluid that carries and transports them.
From 精 (sei, 'essence' or 'spirit') and 子 (shi, 'child' or 'small thing'), referring to the male reproductive cell. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji are conventionally associated with the meaning.