1.
antisepsis; preservation; rot prevention; decay prevention
The act or process of preventing decomposition, decay, or rotting. Applied to food preservation, wood treatment, embalming, and other contexts where organic materials are protected from spoiling.
防腐処理をする。
Apply preservative treatment.
この食品には防腐剤が入っていない。
This food contains no preservatives.
木材の防腐処理をしないと、数年で腐ってしまう。
Without preservative treatment, the wood will rot within a few years.
Composed of 防 (prevent, guard against) + 腐 (rot, decay). Part of the productive 防〜 pattern for describing prevention.
USAGE:
防腐 is most commonly encountered in the compound 防腐剤 (preservative, antiseptic agent). In food-related contexts, it appears on ingredient labels and in discussions about food additives. In construction and woodworking, 防腐処理 (preservative treatment) is the standard term for treating wood against decay.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 防腐剤: preservative, antiseptic
- 防腐処理: preservative treatment
- 防腐効果: preservative effect
- 防腐加工: anti-rot processing
- 無防腐剤: preservative-free
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 保存: preservation, storage — broader term for keeping things in good condition; includes refrigeration, canning, etc.
- 殺菌: sterilization — killing bacteria, a more aggressive approach than just preventing decay
- 防虫: insect prevention — same 防〜 pattern applied to insects
- 防カビ: mold prevention — same 防〜 pattern applied to mold