How to say "biological" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 生物系せいぶつけいnoun, noun (suffix)Covers 'biological' in 'biological system' and in the prefix-like sense of 'bio-'. Choose it for biological systems or where English would use 'bio-'; less common, and for other senses seldom the word you want.
- prenominal modifierA direct loanword, the katakana form of English 'biological'. Use it where the English term itself would be kept rather than translated, as in scientific or technical writing; it is less common.
- 生物学的せいぶつがくてきna-adjectiveCovers 'biological' meaning 'of or relating to biology'. Use it when something is viewed from the standpoint of biology as a science; for the scientific sense of 'biological', this is the word to choose.
- 生物的せいぶつてきna-adjectiveCovers 'biological' in the sense 'of living things': describes something as a property of living organisms rather than of biology as a science. Less common, and seldom the word you want for the scientific sense.
- 実のじつのpre-noun adjectivalCovers 'biological' only in the kinship sense: blood relationship, as in one's biological father. Use it with a family word such as 'father'; for any other sense it is not the word you want.
Use 「実の」 for biological kinship; 生物学的 for the scientific sense; 「バイオロジカル」 where the English loanword is kept; 生物系 for biological systems and the prefix 'bio-'; 生物的 for the general 'of living things' sense — all are less common.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
