How to say "embryo" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 胎児たいじnounThe everyday word for an unborn baby in the womb; it corresponds most closely to English 'fetus', and covers 'embryo' only in the loose sense of a developing child before birth.
- 胚はいnounThe scientific term for an embryo, animal or plant; it also means 'germ' in the botanical sense, as in wheat germ. This is usually the word you want for 'embryo' in a technical context.
- 胚子はいしnounA rarer, more specialized synonym of 胚, seen mainly in embryology and other life-science writing; unless you are translating scientific prose, 胚 is the safer choice.
- nounThe katakana rendering of 'embryo', used chiefly in scientific and technical contexts or for an English-flavored effect; in ordinary prose 胚 is the natural choice.
- 胎芽たいがnounA technical term for an embryo, used chiefly in medicine and biology; in medical usage it contrasts with 胎児, which denotes the later stages of development in the womb.
For an unborn baby in the womb use 胎児, which is closer to 'fetus'; for the technical sense of 'embryo' use 胚, with 胎芽, 胚子 and 「エンブリオ」 as rarer specialist or loanword alternatives.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
