善玉(ぜんだま)

ぜんだま
noun
good guy; good bacteria
personhealth
1. good guy; hero; the good party
A virtuous character or person, contrasted with a villain. Often used of clear-cut heroes in stories or of the 'good side' in a dispute.
この映画(えいが)は善玉(ぜんだま)が勝(か)つ。
In this movie the good guy wins.
昔(むかし)の物語(ものがたり)は善玉(ぜんだま)と悪玉(あくだま)がはっきりしている。
Old tales have a clear good guy and bad guy.
誰(だれ)を善玉(ぜんだま)とするかで、物語(ものがたり)の印象(いんしょう)が大(おお)きく変(か)わる。
Who you make the good guy greatly changes the impression of the story.
2. good bacteria; beneficial microbe
In health and nutrition, bacteria that benefit the body, especially in the gut. Usually said as 善玉菌.
善玉菌(ぜんだまきん)を増(ふ)やす。
Increase the good bacteria.
ヨーグルトには善玉菌(ぜんだまきん)が含(ふく)まれている。
Yogurt contains good bacteria.
腸内(ちょうない)の善玉菌(ぜんだまきん)を増(ふ)やすには、食物繊維(しょくもつせんい)をとるとよい。
To increase good bacteria in the gut, it helps to consume dietary fiber.

Compound of 善(ぜん) (good) + 玉(だま) (ball; figuratively a person or thing). The contrasting word is 悪玉(あくだま).

Common collocations

Usage

  • Sense 1 is somewhat old-fashioned and storybook in flavor.
  • Sense 2 (善玉菌, 善玉コレステロール) is very common in everyday health talk.
general
Added 2026.5.23 12:06 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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