How to say "cell" in Japanese

• 細胞さいぼうJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers the biological sense: the microscopic units that living organisms are made of. Use it for cells in biology, such as those of the body, blood, or plants.
  この地域社会ちいきしゃかいに住すむ一人一人ひとりひとりは、健康けんこうな人間にんげんが持もつ免疫めんえき機構きこうの細胞さいぼうのようなものだ。↗

  Every person in this community is like a cell in the immune system of a healthy human body.
• セルCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword, used mainly in technical contexts — the cells of a spreadsheet, or an individual cell making up a battery. It is not the word for biological cells.
• 電池でんちJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounPrimarily the word for battery; its 'cell' sense is the electrical one, a single cell as a unit of electric power. Choose it when 'cell' refers to electricity, not biology.
  このおもちゃの自動車じどうしゃは電池でんちで動うごく。↗

  This toy car runs on batteries.

細胞 is the biological cell; 電池 is really the word for battery, covering the electric-cell sense; 「セル」 is the katakana loanword used in technical contexts such as spreadsheet cells.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 細胞さいぼうcell
• セルcell
• 電池でんちbattery
• 房ぼうchamber
• フラクションcell (in an organization)
• 独居室どっきょしつcell (e.g. monk's)
• フラクcell (in an organization)
• 小室こむろsmall chamber
• 檻おりcage
• 監房かんぼう(prison) cell