ばい菌(きん)

ばいきん
noun
germs; bacteria; bugs
informalhealthscience
1. germs; bacteria; bugs
A colloquial, non-technical term for harmful microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Used in everyday conversation, especially when talking about hygiene and illness.
ばい菌(きん)が入(はい)らないように手(て)を洗(あら)おう。
Let's wash our hands so germs don't get in.
傷口(きずぐち)からばい菌(きん)が入(はい)ると化膿(かのう)する。
If germs get into a wound, it will become infected.
子(こ)どもの頃(ころ)、汚(きたな)いものを触(さわ)ると「ばい菌(きん)がつくよ」と言(い)われたものだ。
When I was a child, if I touched dirty things, people would say 'you'll get germs.'

Usage

An everyday word used particularly by and when speaking to children. Not a scientific term — in technical contexts, 細菌(さいきん) (bacteria), ウイルス (virus), or 微生物(びせいぶつ) (microorganism) are used instead.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Synonym: 細菌(さいきん) (bacteria (technical))
Compare: 病原菌(びょうげんきん) (pathogenic bacteria)
Compare: 雑菌(ざっきん) (miscellaneous bacteria)
general
Added 2026.3.19 13:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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