種(しゅ)

しゅ
noun
species; kind; type (biology)
1. species (in biology); kind; type
Biological species — the basic unit of taxonomy. Also used more loosely as a noun or counter for 'kind' or 'type', especially in technical writing.
新(あたら)しい種(しゅ)が発見(はっけん)された。
A new species has been discovered.
絶滅(ぜつめつ)危惧(きぐ)種(しゅ)を保護(ほご)する必要(ひつよう)がある。
We need to protect endangered species.
この森(もり)には数百(すうひゃく)種(しゅ)の植物(しょくぶつ)が生息(せいそく)している。
Several hundred species of plants live in this forest.

Reading しゅ refers primarily to the biological concept of species. The same kanji read たね means 'seed' and is a separate entry. As a counter, 種(しゅ) counts kinds or species (3種(しゅ)の植物(しょくぶつ) = three species/kinds of plants).

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 絶滅(ぜつめつ)危惧(きぐ)種(しゅ): endangered species
  • 外来(がいらい)種(しゅ): non-native/invasive species
  • 在来(ざいらい)種(しゅ): native species
  • 新種(しんしゅ): new species
  • 人種(じんしゅ): race (of people)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 種類(しゅるい): kind, type — everyday word for varieties of anything
  • 品種(ひんしゅ): variety, breed — for plants and animals (especially cultivated)
  • 種(たね): seed — same kanji, different reading, separate entry

Related Words

Related: 種(たね) (seed (same kanji))
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Added 2026.6.2 12:10
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