病原菌(びょうげんきん)

びょうげんきん
noun
pathogenic bacteria; germs
1. pathogenic bacteria; disease-causing germs
Bacteria or microorganisms that cause disease. Used in medical, scientific, and everyday contexts when talking about the source of infections.
病原菌(びょうげんきん)が検出(けんしゅつ)された。
Pathogenic bacteria were detected.
手洗(てあら)いで病原菌(びょうげんきん)の感染(かんせん)を防(ふせ)ぐことができる。
You can prevent the spread of germs by washing your hands.
研究者(けんきゅうしゃ)たちは新(あたら)しい病原菌(びょうげんきん)の特定(とくてい)に成功(せいこう)し、治療法(ちりょうほう)の開発(かいはつ)に取(と)り組(く)んでいる。
Researchers succeeded in identifying a new pathogen and are working on developing a treatment.

A common word in health and science contexts. Though technically 菌(きん) refers to bacteria/fungi, in everyday Japanese 病原菌(びょうげんきん) is used loosely to mean any disease-causing microorganism, including viruses.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 病原菌(びょうげんきん)を除去(じょきょ)する: to remove pathogens
  • 病原菌(びょうげんきん)の感染(かんせん): infection by pathogens
  • 病原菌(びょうげんきん)が繁殖(はんしょく)する: pathogens multiply
  • 病原菌(びょうげんきん)を持(も)つ: to carry pathogens

RELATED TERMS:

  • 細菌(さいきん): bacteria — broader term for all bacteria
  • ウイルス: virus — technically distinct from bacteria
  • 病原体(びょうげんたい): pathogen — more precise scientific term covering all disease-causing agents

FORMATION:
病原(びょうげん) (disease-causing) + 菌(きん) (bacteria/germ)

general
Added 2026.4.6 4:23 · Revised 2026.4.10 17:28
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