免疫（めんえき、meneki）
- immunity

The Japanese word 免疫 (めんえき - men'eki) translates to "immunity" or "immunization" in English. It refers to the body's natural defense system against diseases, infections, and foreign substances. It encompasses the ability of the body to recognize and eliminate harmful elements, protecting itself from illness. It also includes the state of being resistant to a particular disease, often as a result of prior exposure or vaccination. The term covers various aspects of immune responses, including the production of antibodies, the activity of immune cells, and the body's overall ability to defend itself. Essentially, 免疫 is the body's way of staying healthy and fighting off threats.

⚫︎予防接種によって、免疫を獲得する。 Translation: You gain immunity through vaccination. ⚫︎彼の免疫力は弱っている。 Translation: His immune system is weak. ⚫︎この病気に対する免疫がない。 Translation: I don't have immunity to this disease.

免疫 is used in various contexts, including medical discussions, conversations about health and wellness, and discussions of infectious diseases. It is a fundamental concept in biology and medicine, so it is often used in a formal setting. It can be used to describe the state of being immune to a disease, the process of developing immunity (e.g., through vaccination), or the immune system itself. It’s also used in discussions about allergies and autoimmune diseases. The word is generally understood by the educated public.

免疫 is written in kanji as 免疫. The reading is めんえき (men'eki) in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

* 抵抗力 (teikōryoku) - resistance, resilience * 抗体 (kōtai) - antibody * 免疫系 (men'ekikei) - immune system

* 無防備 (mubōbi) - defenseless, unprotected * 脆弱性 (zejakusei) - vulnerability * 感染しやすい (kansen shiyasui) - susceptible to infection

インフルエンザの予防には、免疫を高めることが重要です。 ・Translation: To prevent the flu, it's important to boost your immunity. ・Explanation: This sentence highlights the importance of strengthening the body's defenses against influenza.

この薬は、免疫反応を抑制する効果があります。 ・Translation: This medicine has the effect of suppressing the immune response. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the function of a medicine to suppress the immune system.

The word 免疫 is a compound word derived from Chinese characters. The first character, 免 (men), means "to avoid" or "to be excused from." The second character, 疫 (eki), means "epidemic" or "plague." Therefore, the literal meaning of 免疫 is "to avoid epidemics," which accurately reflects its function in protecting the body from diseases.