Translation guide
The English word "reproduction" covers several distinct concepts: biological reproduction, creating copies of artworks or documents, and the quality of reproduced sound or images. This guide organizes Japanese equivalents by these core meanings.
The process by which living organisms produce offspring.
The standard biological term for reproduction, used in scientific and formal contexts.
生殖は生物の基本的な機能です。
Reproduction is a fundamental function of living organisms.
Refers to breeding or propagation, often used for animals and plants. Can imply increase in numbers.
この鳥は春に繁殖します。
This bird reproduces in spring.
A more colloquial expression meaning 'to leave descendants' or 'to reproduce'.
生物は子孫を残すために進化してきた。
Living things have evolved to reproduce.
A copy of a painting, photograph, or printed material, often made for distribution or display.
General term for a reproduction or duplicate of an artwork, document, or object. Neutral and widely used.
Loanword from English, used for photocopies or digital copies. Less formal than 複製.
Specifically refers to a hand-drawn copy of a painting or calligraphy, often as a study or forgery.
The fidelity with which audio or visual content is rendered by a device.
Used for playback of audio or video. Often combined with other words like 音声再生 (audio playback) or 再生品質 (playback quality).
このスピーカーは音の再生が素晴らしい。
This speaker has excellent sound reproduction.
Refers to reproducibility or fidelity, often used in technical contexts for audio/video equipment.
The English word "reproduction" is often translated as 生殖 in biology, but in everyday conversation about having children, Japanese speakers use expressions like 子供を作る (to have a child) or 子孫を残す (to leave descendants). Using 生殖 in casual contexts can sound overly technical or awkward.
複製 is the standard term for reproductions of artworks, books, or objects, and can be used in formal contexts. コピー is a loanword primarily used for photocopies or digital copies, and is more casual. For art reproductions, 複製 is preferred.
Please make a copy of the document.
He is practicing reproductions of famous paintings.
These headphones have high reproduction fidelity.