How to say "conservation" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 保存ほぞんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers preservation in the sense of keeping something unchanged or storing it for later — saving files and data, preserving documents, food, or records. For conserving nature or resources, one of the other words is preferred.
- 保全ほぜんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbConservation as keeping something intact and in working order — natural environments, resources, or equipment. The nuance is maintaining integrity and function rather than simply shielding something from harm.
- 保護ほごnoun, suru verb, transitive verbThe word you want for conservation of nature, wildlife, and the environment, with a nuance of actively protecting something from harm or destruction. Also covers preservation of cultural properties and similar treasured things.
- 保守ほしゅnounChiefly means conservatism — a conservative political or ideological stance — and conservativeness. Its 'conservation' sense is narrow and technical, so it is seldom the word you want for conserving nature, resources, or energy.彼は保守寄りだ。↗He is conservative to a degree.
Use 保護 for protecting nature, wildlife, and the environment, 保全 for keeping environments, resources, or equipment intact and functioning, 保存 for preserving or storing things unchanged, and avoid 保守, which chiefly means conservatism.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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