How to say "sample" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe broadest everyday word for 'sample', covering free samples, product samples, and examples. A safe default when you mean a sample of something in a casual or commercial context.
- 見本みほんno-adjectiveA sample shown as a model or pattern to imitate or choose from, such as a sample of cloth, wallpaper, or a finished product displayed for customers. It emphasizes being an exemplar rather than a test item.
- 標本ひょうほんnounA specimen collected and preserved for scientific study, such as a botanical, zoological, or statistical specimen. Not the word for product or food samples; it belongs to natural science and statistical sampling contexts.
- 試料しりょうnounA sample prepared for testing, analysis, or experiment in scientific and industrial settings, such as a test piece in a laboratory. Use it when the sample is material to be measured or analyzed.
- 検体けんたいnounA specimen submitted for examination, especially in medical and diagnostic contexts such as blood or tissue samples. It means the object to be examined, so it is out of place for commercial or product samples.
Use 「サンプル」 as the general everyday word for a sample, 見本 for display or model samples, 標本 for scientific specimens, 試料 for test samples in analysis, and 検体 for medical specimens under examination.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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