subject; test subject; trial subject
Only when written 被験者
Refers to a person participating in a medical experiment, clinical trial, or psychological study. Often used in research contexts.
The university recruited test subjects for the clinical trial of a new drug.
I participated as a subject in a clinical trial for a new drug.
被験者の安全を最優先に考えてください。
Please prioritize the safety of the test subjects.
examinee; person undergoing an examination
Used for someone undergoing a medical examination, such as a full-body scan, health checkup, or diagnostic test. Less common than the first sense.
MRI検査の被検者は、金属類を外してください。
Examinees undergoing an MRI scan should remove any metal objects.
The researcher administered a small dose of the drug to the test subject.
He participated in the experiment as a test subject.
モルモット is an informal, slightly humorous way to call someone a 'guinea pig' in an experiment, while 被験者 is the neutral, formal term used in research reports.
実験者 is the researcher who conducts the experiment, the opposite role to 被験者, the person who is tested.
被験体 looks almost identical to 被験者 but can refer to any experimental subject, including animals or objects, whereas 被験者 is used only for human participants.
被検体 uses a different kanji for 検 but, like 被験体, refers to any entity being examined or tested, not necessarily a human being as with 被験者.
被験者 is counted with 人, the standard counter for people, as in 被験者10人.
Standard kanji form; used in news and formal contexts. The first sense is restricted to this spelling.
Alternate kanji form; less common but acceptable, especially for the second sense (examinee).
Compound of 被 (hi, 'receive') + 験 (ken, 'test') + 者 (sha, 'person'). The alternate form 被検者 uses 検 (ken, 'examine').