土壌(どじょう)

どじょう
noun
soil, ground
nature
1. soil, earth, ground
The upper layer of earth in which plants grow. Used in scientific, agricultural, and environmental contexts.
土壌(どじょう)を調(しら)べる。
To examine the soil.
この地域(ちいき)は土壌(どじょう)が豊(ゆた)かで農業(のうぎょう)に適(てき)している。
This area has rich soil and is suitable for agriculture.
工場(こうじょう)からの排水(はいすい)で土壌(どじょう)が汚染(おせん)された。
The soil was contaminated by wastewater from the factory.
2. breeding ground, fertile ground (figurative)
An environment or conditions that give rise to something, especially something negative like corruption or extremism.
不正(ふせい)が生(う)まれる土壌(どじょう)がある。
There is a breeding ground for corruption.
差別(さべつ)を生(う)む土壌(どじょう)をなくさなければならない。
We must eliminate the breeding ground for discrimination.
自由(じゆう)な議論(ぎろん)ができる土壌(どじょう)が育(そだ)っていない社会(しゃかい)では、改革(かいかく)は進(すす)まない。
In a society where the ground for free discussion has not been cultivated, reform will not advance.

Usage

More formal and scientific than 土(つち) (everyday word for dirt/soil). 土壌(どじょう) appears in news, environmental reports, and agriculture. The figurative sense (breeding ground) is also common in news and social commentary.

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: 土中(どちゅう) (in the soil)
Compare: 土質(どしつ) (soil quality)
Compare: 赤土 (red clay)
general
Added 2026.2.19 22:35 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
12000/12040_dojou