Yojijukugo
Japanese meaning of 自然淘汰
Voice sample:
しぜんとうた (shizen touta)
English Translation:
Natural selection, weeding out
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Literally “natural weeding out”; things that do not suit their surroundings disappear over time, while those that suit them remain.
日本語で読む
環境に合わないものがしだいにほろび、合うものだけが生き残ること。
Cultural Context:
It is a biology term for natural selection, and in daily life it is also used for shops, products or customs that disappear on their own.
日本語で読む
生物学の「自然選択」を表す言葉で、日常でも、店や商品、習慣などが自然になくなっていくことに使う。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Often “自然淘汰される” or “自然淘汰で消える.”
日本語で読む
•「自然淘汰される」「自然淘汰で消える」のように使う。
Trap for English Speakers
淘汰 is read とうた. In daily use it means things fade away naturally, without anyone forcing them out.
日本語で読む
「淘汰」は「とうた」と読む。日常では、だれかが追い出すのではなく、自然に消えていくことを表す。
Example
Example 1Basic Example
駅前に新しい店が次々にでき、古い店は自然淘汰されていった。
New shops kept opening by the station, and the old ones were gradually weeded out.
Example 2Applied Example
役に立たない忍術は使われなくなり、やがて自然淘汰されていった。
Useless ninja techniques fell out of use and were eventually weeded out.
Quick check
Meaning
What does 「自然淘汰」 mean?