Understanding 妊娠 (にんしん)
妊娠 means pregnancy or conception and is a formal term often used in medical or official contexts. It refers to the state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body.
Usage and Context
This word is commonly used when discussing pregnancy in health care, family conversations, or news. It can describe the condition itself (being pregnant) or the process of conception.
Common Collocations
- 妊娠する: to become pregnant
- 妊娠初期: early stage of pregnancy
- 妊娠検査薬: pregnancy test kit
- 妊娠中: during pregnancy
These collocations help specify timing or actions related to pregnancy.
Register and Politeness
妊娠 is a neutral to formal word. It is appropriate in medical, official, or polite conversations. In casual talk, people might use 妊娠する or simply say 赤ちゃんができた (I’m having a baby).
Common Learner Mistake
Confusing 妊娠 with 出産 (しゅっさん, childbirth). 妊娠 means being pregnant, while 出産 means giving birth. Make sure to use 妊娠 when referring to the pregnancy period, not the delivery event.