How to Say "Secretion" in Japanese

分泌

bunpitsu[bɯ̟̃mpʲit͡sɨ]

The English word "secretion" is translated into Japanese as 分泌 (bunpitsu).

The term 分泌 is primarily used in medical, biological or scientific contexts.

Meaning: secreted substance (noun)

Which one should you use?

分泌物 refers to secretion as a noun. Additionally, 分泌しています is the formal way to say is secreting in the present tense.

The noun 分泌 can be turned into a verb by adding する (to do).

bunpitsu

In Japanese, the term 分泌 is strictly used for biological processes and cannot be used for the 'secretion' of information or secrets in a figurative sense.
In casual Japanese, people rarely use 分泌 to describe sweat or tears, preferring the more general word 出る which simply means 'to come out'.
The reading of the kanji 分 as 'bun' in 分泌 is the same reading used in words like 'minute' or 'portion', emphasizing the act of splitting or dividing.

人体は様々なホルモンを分泌します。
The human body secretes various hormones.
胃液の分泌が活発です。
Ieki no bunpi ga kappatsu desu.
The secretion of gastric juice is active.
涙の分泌が止まりません。
Namida no bunpi ga tomarimasen.
The secretion of tears does not stop.

A student and a teacher are discussing a biology project.

大翔 Hiroto

この分泌は何を助けますか？
Kono bunpitsu wa nani o tasukemasu ka?
What does this secretion help with?
結衣 Yui

肌を保護する役割があります。
Hada o hogo suru yakuwari ga arimasu.
It has a role in protecting the skin.
大翔 Hiroto

なるほど。分泌の仕組みは複雑ですね。
Naruhodo. Bunpitsu no shikumi wa fukuzatsu desu ne.
I see. The mechanism of secretion is complex, isn't it?
結衣 Yui

そうですね。もっと詳しく調べましょう。
Sō desu ne. Motto kuwashiku shirabemashō.
It is. Let's investigate it in more detail.

Sources

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