How to Say "Parasite" in Japanese

寄生虫

kiseichū[kʲi̥se̞ːt͡ɕɨː]

The English word "parasite" is translated into Japanese as 寄生虫 (kiseichū) or 寄生物 (kiseibutsu).

Meaning: (biology) organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism (noun)

Ways to say it

“parasite” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA
寄生虫	kiseichū	[kʲi̥se̞ːt͡ɕɨː] (narrow)
寄生物	kiseibutsu

In a biological context, these terms refer to an organism that exists by stealing resources from another organism.

The word 寄生虫 is composed of 寄生 (parasitism) and 虫 (insect, bug or organism).

kiseichū

The internationally acclaimed film 'Parasite' is titled パラサイト (parasaito) in Japan, using the English word written in katakana rather than the Japanese word 寄生虫.
In casual Japanese, if someone is called a 寄生虫 by a parent, it often specifically refers to an adult child who refuses to move out and get a job.
The kanji 寄 (ki) in the phrase means 'to approach' or 'to depend on'. This provides a visual clue to the parasite's behavior of approaching a host to depend on it for survival.

この水には寄生虫がいるかもしれません。
Kono mizu ni wa kiseichu ga iru kamoshiremasen.
There might be parasites in this water.
顕微鏡で寄生虫を観察しました。
Kenbikyou de kiseichu o kansatsu shimashita.
I observed parasites under a microscope.
寄生虫の被害に注意してください。
Kiseichu no higai ni chuui shite kudasai.
Please be careful of damage from parasites.

Yui and Youta are looking at a science textbook in a library.

結衣 Yui

この図は寄生虫について書かれているね。
Kono zu wa kiseichu ni tsuite kakarete iru ne.
This diagram is about parasites, isn't it?
陽太 Yota

そうだね、とても詳しく載っているよ。
Sou da ne, totemo kuwashiku notte iru yo.
That's right, it is described very thoroughly.
結衣 Yui

陽太くんは、寄生虫の図鑑を持っている？
Youta-kun wa, kiseichu no zukan o motte iru?
Youta, do you have a book on parasites?
陽太 Yota

いや、僕は持っていないよ。
Iya, boku wa motte inai yo.
No, I don't have one.

Sources

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