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細菌 (さいきん, saikin) Japanese meaning: bacterium | Kotomora
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ちゃく
し
て
いる
。
Many bacteria are on your hands.
This medicine suppresses the growth of bacteria.
Usage patterns 細さい 菌きん が 繁はん 殖しょく する for bacteria to multiply/proliferate
In summer, bacteria tend to multiply easily due to the humidity.
細さい 菌きん に 感かん 染せん する to become infected with bacteria
I got infected with bacteria through the wound.
細さい 菌きん を 培ばい 養よう する to culture bacteria
The researcher cultured the bacteria in a growth medium.
細さい 菌きん を 死し 滅めつ させる to kill off/eliminate bacteria
High heat can kill off bacteria.
細さい 菌きん が 検けん 出しゅつ される for bacteria to be detected
Bacteria were detected in the tap water.
Related words· 6 細菌 is the neutral, scientific term for bacteria, while ばい菌 is a casual, everyday word usually implying germs that cause harm or dirtiness.
細菌 refers specifically to bacteria, whereas 微生物 is the broader category of microorganisms that also includes fungi, protozoa, and viruses.
細菌 is the general term for bacteria of any shape, while 球菌 specifically refers to spherical-shaped bacteria.
細菌 is the general term for any bacterium, while 大腸菌 refers specifically to E. coli.
Show 2 more 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.
細菌 specifically means 'bacterium', while 菌 is broader and can also refer to fungi or molds.
Don't confuse with 細菌 (bacteria) are self-replicating single-celled organisms, while ウイルス (virus) are much smaller and can only reproduce inside a host cell.
細胞 refers to the basic living unit of an organism, while 細菌 refers to bacteria, a separate microorganism; the two are often confused because both begin with 細 and appear in biology contexts.
Etymology From 細 (small, fine) + 菌 (fungus, germ). The term was coined in the Meiji period as a translation for 'bacterium'.
biological warfare; germ warfare