Translation guide
The English word 'degeneracy' can refer to moral decline, a state of decay, or a technical term in physics and mathematics. This guide covers how to express these meanings in Japanese, from common words for moral corruption to specialized scientific terms.
Expressing a decline in moral standards, often in society or an individual.
Refers to decadence, moral decay, or degeneracy, often in a cultural or societal context.
その時代は道徳の退廃が進んでいた。
That era was marked by increasing moral degeneracy.
Means corruption, depravity, or falling into a degenerate state. Often used for personal moral decline.
彼は酒とギャンブルで堕落した生活を送っている。
He leads a degenerate life of drinking and gambling.
A variant of 退廃, also meaning decadence or degeneracy, but less common.
頽廃した文化。
A degenerate culture.
Describing a condition of decline, deterioration, or loss of normal qualities.
Means degeneration or regression, often used in biological or functional contexts, but can also refer to a general decline.
使わない筋肉は退化する。
Unused muscles degenerate.
Means alteration or degeneration, often implying a change for the worse in character or quality.
Referring to the scientific concept where different states have the same energy level, or where multiple configurations yield the same outcome.
The standard term for degeneracy in quantum mechanics and other physical sciences.
このエネルギー準位は縮退している。
This energy level is degenerate.
Also means degeneracy, used in physics and chemistry, but less common than 縮退.
縮重状態にある電子。
Electrons in a degenerate state.
Referring to the redundancy in genetic code where multiple codons encode the same amino acid.
Specifically refers to the degeneracy of the genetic code.
遺伝暗号の縮重は、突然変異の影響を和らげる。
The degeneracy of the genetic code mitigates the effects of mutations.
Direct translations like 'degeneracy' as a noun can sound unnatural. Use words like 退廃 or 堕落, which are more idiomatic for moral contexts.
退廃 (taihai) often describes cultural or societal decadence, while 堕落 (daraku) is more about personal moral corruption or depravity.
組織の変質が問題になっている。
The degeneracy of the organization has become a problem.