How to say "nutrient" in Japanese

Choosing the right word

養分ようぶんJLPT N2approx.Common
nounCovers nutrients as general nourishment that a living thing draws from food, soil, or water. Common in talk of plants, animals, and the body taking in what it needs, with a broadly everyday feel.
栄養素えいようそCommon
nounThe word for nutrients as distinct substances — vitamins, minerals, and the like — counted or named individually. It is the natural choice in diet, health, and nutritional science contexts, where specific nutrient categories are being discussed.
栄養分えいようぶんCommon
nounAlso refers to nutrients as nourishment contained in food or absorbed by the body or a plant. It sits close to 養分 in use but has a somewhat more scientific or technical tone, and its gloss extends to 'nutrition' generally.
このビタミン剤びたみんざいは栄養分えいようぶんを豊富ほうふに含ふくんでいる。↗
The vitamin pill contains abundant nutrition.

Use 栄養素 for nutrients as specific substances, and 養分 or 栄養分 for nourishment taken in generally, with 栄養分 leaning slightly more scientific than 養分.

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

Japanese equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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