How to Say "Mold" in Japanese

カビ

kabi

The English word "mold" is translated into Japanese as カビ (kabi).

カビ refers to the furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi.

Meaning: furry or woolly growth of tiny fungi (noun)

How does it change in a sentence?

To describe a state where mold is currently present on an object, use the continuous form カビが生えている.

kabi

In Japanese, the term for 'moldy' can sometimes be used colloquially to describe a person who is very old-fashioned or uncool.
The word カビ is used in the expression カビが生える (literally 'mold grows') to describe someone who has been waiting for a very long time.
Japanese people often use the term カビ to refer to the white powdery residue found on old chocolate, even though that is technically fat bloom and not fungus.

パンの耳にカビがあったから、食べなかったよ。
I didn't eat the bread because there was mold on the crust.
This sentence shows how to use カビ when referring to mold on bread crust.
Tatoeba #11623800 by small_snow, translation #12382324 by CK
パンにカビが生えてるよ。これじゃあもう食べられないな。
There's mold on the bread. This means that we can't eat it anymore.
This sentence illustrates the use of カビ to describe mold that has made food inedible.
Tatoeba #901653 by bunbuku, translation #924147 by Scott
窓の隅にカビが生えている。
There is mold growing in the corner of the window.
湿気の多い部屋にはカビが生えやすいです。
Shikke no ooi heya ni wa kabi ga haeyasui desu.
Mold easily grows in humid rooms.

Hiroto and Yui are checking the food in the refrigerator.

大翔 Hiroto

このチーズ、カビが生えてないかな？
Kono chiizu, kabi ga haete nai kana?
I wonder if this cheese has mold on it?
結衣 Yui

本当だ。ここが緑色になってるよ。
Hontō da. Koko ga midoriiro ni natteru yo.
You're right. It's turned green right here.
大翔 Hiroto

残念だけど、もう捨てなきゃダメだね。
Zannen dakedo, mō sutenakya dame da ne.
It's a shame, but we have to throw it away now.
結衣 Yui

そうだね。新しいのを買いに行こう。
Sō da ne. Atarashii no o kai ni ikō.
True. Let's go buy a new one.

Sources

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