How to say "by-product" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 副産物ふくさんぶつnounThe general-purpose word for a by-product, whether a secondary product of a manufacturing process or, figuratively, an unintended result of some activity. This is the word you want in most contexts.
- 副生成物ふくせいせいぶつnounA less common, technical term for a by-product formed as a residual or secondary product in a chemical or production process; it is really at home in scientific writing rather than everyday or figurative use.
- 副生物ふくせいぶつnounA less common word meaning a secondary product that arises alongside a main one; it overlaps with 'by-product' but leans toward the 'secondary product' sense and is seldom the word you want in ordinary usage.
Use 副産物 as the default, everyday word for by-products in both literal and figurative senses; 副生成物 and 副生物 are less common, more technical alternatives mainly in scientific or industrial writing.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
