Natural Selection

Japanese: 自然淘汰 - しぜんとうた

Only living things that are suited to the natural conditions and environment will survive, and those that are not will perish.

[Example] My wife started crying, so the doctor tried to comfort her by saying that a certain percentage of puppies die as a result of natural selection. [Masuji Ibuse * Dog's Mother-in-law | 1951]

[Example] By the time Akiko can no longer come to the office, the office may no longer need her. This may also be a natural selection. [Sawako Ariyoshi * Ecstatic Person | 1972]

[Explanation] A term used by Darwin in his theory of evolution. A translation of the English term "natural selection."

Source: Dictionary of Four-character Idioms About Dictionary of Four-character Idioms Information

Japanese:

生物は自然の状況、環境に適したもののみが残り、そうでないものは滅びるということ。

[使用例] 家内が泣きだしたので、医者が慰問の言葉を述べ、犬の仔というものは、自然淘汰で大てい何割かの率で死ぬものだと言った［井伏鱒二＊犬の姑｜1951］

[使用例] 昭子が事務所に来られなくなる頃には、事務所の方も昭子を必要としなくなっているかもしれない。これも自然淘汰というものかもしれない［有吉佐和子＊恍惚の人｜1972］

[解説] ダーウィンが進化論で用いた語。英語natural selectionの訳語。

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