バクテリア

also: バクテリヤ

バ

ク

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リ

ア

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

bacteria; germs

Loanword from English 'bacteria'. Used in scientific and everyday contexts. Often interchangeable with 細菌 (さいきん), but バクテリア can sound more technical or Western.

Usage patterns

バクテリアが繁はん殖しょくするfor bacteria to multiply/proliferate
傷きず口ぐちでバクテリアが繁はん殖しょくした。
Bacteria multiplied in the wound.
バクテリアを死し滅めつさせるto kill off bacteria
熱ねつ処しょ理りでバクテリアを死し滅めつさせる。
The bacteria are killed off through heat treatment.
バクテリアに感かん染せんするto become infected with bacteria
傷きず口ぐちがバクテリアに感かん染せんしてしまった。
The wound became infected with bacteria.
バクテリアが〈物もの〉を分ぶん解かいするfor bacteria to break down something
バクテリアが土つちの中なかの有ゆう機き物ぶつを分ぶん解かいする。
Bacteria break down organic matter in the soil.

Related words

細さい菌きんN2
細菌 is the native Japanese term for bacteria used in everyday hygiene and medical talk, while バクテリア is the English loanword that can sound more technical or scientific.
微び生せい物ぶつ
微生物 is the broader term for microorganisms in general, while バクテリア refers specifically to bacteria as one type of microorganism.

Don't confuse with

ウイルスN3
バクテリア are living single-celled organisms, whereas ウイルス are not cells and can only replicate inside a host, so they are biologically distinct despite both being called 'germs' in casual speech.

Word family

鉄てつバクテリア
iron bacteria
人ひと食くいバクテリア
flesh-eating bacteria

Written forms

バクテリアUsage97%
Standard katakana spelling for the loanword 'bacteria'.
バクテリヤUsage3%
Alternate katakana rendering; less common than バクテリア.

Etymology

Loanword from English 'bacteria', ultimately from New Latin 'bacterium'.