素数
sosū[so̞sɨː]
The English phrase "prime numbers" is translated into Japanese as 素数 (sosū).
The term is used in mathematics to refer to whole numbers greater than one that cannot be formed by multiplying two smaller natural numbers.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 素数 is composed of 素 (so), meaning "elemental" or "raw" and 数 (sū), meaning "number".
How does it change in a sentence?
素数 is a noun that does not change its form to indicate plurality. The context or accompanying counters determine if it refers to one or many prime numbers.
How do you pronounce it?
sosū
Did you know?
- The character 素 in 素数 is used in the word 素顔 (sugao) to mean one's 'natural face' or 'true self' without makeup. This connects the mathematical concept of a prime number to the idea of a person in their most natural and unadorned state.
- The character 素 is also found in 元素 (genso), the word for a chemical 'element'. This reveals a consistent linguistic pattern where Japanese uses the same character for the fundamental units of both mathematics and chemistry.
- When studying prime numbers, Japanese students encounter the term エラトステネスの篩 (Eratosthenes no shii). The kanji for 'sieve', 篩, is considered so complex that many native Japanese speakers cannot write it by hand without looking it up.
Examples in context
- 素数はどれでしょう。Which are the prime numbers?This sentence is useful for asking which numbers are prime numbers using 素数.Tatoeba #9934164 by small_snow, translation #1135665 by CM
- １０と１４の間には、素数は２つだけです。There are only two prime numbers between 10 and 14.This sentence is useful for stating how many prime numbers exist in a specific range using 素数.Tatoeba #9700887 by small_snow, translation #10091774 by CK
- 七と十三は素数だ。Seven and thirteen are prime numbers.This sentence is useful for identifying specific numbers as being prime numbers using 素数.
- 素数が大好きですI love prime numbers
- 素数を七つ見つけましたI found seven prime numbers
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two students are discussing their math homework.
- 陽葵 Himari蓮、この問題の答えは素数になる？Ren, kono mondai no kotae wa sosū ni naru?Ren, is the answer to this problem a prime number?
- 蓮 Renうん、たぶん素数だと思うよ。Un, tabun sosū da to omou yo.Yeah, I think it's probably a prime number.
- 陽葵 Himariどうやって計算したの？Dō yatte keisan shita no?How did you calculate it?
- 蓮 Ren割り切れる数がないか確認したんだ。Warikireru kazu ga nai ka kakunin shita nda.I checked to see if there were any divisors.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 素数, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
