How to say "microscope" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 顕微鏡けんびきょうnounThe common word for the instrument that magnifies tiny objects or samples so they can be studied, in classrooms, laboratories, and research; use it for essentially every sense of 'microscope'.
- nounA loanword from English for the same instrument. It is less common, so for ordinary purposes 顕微鏡 is the word you want; choose this only if you specifically want the English-derived form.
Both words refer to the same instrument for magnifying tiny objects, so the choice is not about sense: use 顕微鏡, the common word, in nearly all contexts, and treat 「マイクロスコープ」 as a less common loanword.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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