Translation guide
A substance that makes something impure or unsafe. In Japanese, the most common word is 汚染物質, but depending on context, other terms like 不純物 or 混入物 may be more natural.
A harmful substance in air, water, soil, etc.
The standard term for environmental pollutants or contaminants. Used in scientific, technical, and everyday contexts.
工場から有害な汚染物質が排出された。
Harmful contaminants were released from the factory.
この川には多くの汚染物質が含まれている。
This river contains many contaminants.
A slightly shorter form of 汚染物質, often used in similar contexts but can sound a bit more formal or technical.
大気中の汚染物を測定する。
Measure contaminants in the atmosphere.
An unwanted substance mixed into something pure, like food, drugs, or materials.
Refers to impurities or foreign matter in a substance. Common in contexts like food safety, chemistry, and manufacturing.
この製品には不純物が混入していた。
This product contained contaminants (impurities).
不純物を取り除くためにろ過する。
Filter to remove contaminants.
Literally 'mixed-in thing'. Used when a foreign substance accidentally gets into something. Often used in food contamination incidents.
Technical term for impurities or foreign matter, often used in scientific or industrial contexts. Less common in everyday speech.
Bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that contaminate something.
Refers to microbial contamination. Often used in food safety, healthcare, and laboratory settings.
この食品は微生物汚染の可能性がある。
This food may have microbial contaminants.
Specifically pathogenic bacteria or germs. Used when the contaminant is disease-causing.
井戸水から病原菌が検出された。
Pathogenic contaminants were detected in the well water.
Radioactive substances that contaminate an area or object.
Standard term for radioactive contaminants.
原発事故で放射性汚染物質が拡散した。
Radioactive contaminants spread after the nuclear accident.
Radioactive material; often used when the contaminant is specifically radioactive, but can also refer to any radioactive substance.
土壌から放射性物質が除去された。
Radioactive contaminants were removed from the soil.
汚染物質 is used for environmental or large-scale contamination (pollution), while 不純物 is more about impurities within a substance, like in food or chemicals. 混入物 emphasizes that something accidentally got mixed in.
The English word 'contaminant' is often translated directly as 汚染物質, but in many contexts a more specific term like 不純物 or 混入物 is more natural. Consider what is being contaminated and how.
食品への異物混入が問題になった。
Contamination of food with foreign objects became a problem.
混入物の正体を調査中です。
We are investigating the identity of the contaminant.
試料から夾雑物を除去する。
Remove contaminants from the sample.