Jisho

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3 Replies ・ Started by jakku at 2017-09-14 11:12:35 UTC ・ Last reply by jakku at 2017-09-15 03:00:12 UTC

Difference between 自然林 and 原生林

In english terms it seems like they mean the same thing, but I wonder if there's a difference between them in Japanese.

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Leebo at 2017-09-14 11:57:26 UTC

I checked weblio. They both mean a forest that hasn't been touched by humans, but the 原生林 definition has the added element of also not being damaged by things like wildfires.

Feel free to read them yourself.
http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E8%87%AA%E7%84%B6%E6%9E%97
http://www.weblio.jp/content/%E5%8E%9F%E7%94%9F%E6%9E%97

They are very similar though, and are listed in each others' "similar words" section of the pages.

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Yuujiin at 2017-09-14 12:50:20 UTC

I asked a couple of native speakers ...

自然林 is more commonly used and generally means a forest that is "natural" or in other words is not a "tree farm" or garden/park.

原生林 is usually not used in spoken language because it refers to "untouched" or very primitive/ancient forest ... usually used in literature and has a 神話的 (mythological) feeling about it.

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jakku at 2017-09-15 03:00:12 UTC

Thank you! :)

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