How to say "species" in Japanese

• 種概念しゅがいねん
  nounCovers 'species' in the logical or philosophical sense of a specific concept, contrasted with a genus. It is less common and is seldom the word you want for animals or plants in ordinary biological contexts.
• 種族しゅぞくCommon
  nounThe common word for 'species', especially of living organisms, and it can also mean genus or family in classification. Use this when talking about species of animals or plants in general contexts.
  虎とらは消滅しょうめつしかかっている種族しゅぞくである。↗

  The tiger is a vanishing species.
• 種しゅJLPT N1approx.
  nounA less common, more technical term for 'species' in biological classification. It appears in scientific or taxonomic writing, but 種族 is usually the safer choice for everyday use.
  １つの種しゅが絶滅ぜつめつするたびに、我々われわれは自然界しぜんかいの一部いちぶを永久えいきゅうに失うしなうことになる。↗

  Every time a species dies out, we lose forever a part of our natural world.

For the biological sense of 'species', 種族 is the common everyday choice; 種 is a less common technical term, while 種概念 is a rare logical/philosophical term, not the usual biological word.

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

• 種概念しゅがいねんspecific concept
• 種族しゅぞくspecies
• 種しゅspecies