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相利共生 (そうりきょうせい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

相そう利り共きょう生せい

そ

う

り

きょ

う

せ

い

Meanings

1

mutualism; symbiosis

Biology term for a relationship where both organisms benefit.

アリとアブラムシの関かん係けいは相そう利り共きょう生

せい

の

一いち

例れい

だ

。

The relationship between ants and aphids is an example of mutualism.

Kanji

相inter-, mutual, together
利profit, advantage, benefit
共together, both, neither
生life, genuine, birth

Related words

共きょう生せい
共生 is the broader term for symbiosis, which includes mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. 相利共生 specifically refers to mutualism where both parties benefit.

Etymology

Compound of 相利 (mutual benefit) and 共生 (symbiosis). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is a modern biological coinage.