被験者

• Reading: ひけんしゃ
• Romaji: hikensha
• Kanji breakdown: 被 (hi/kōmu-) — to receive, undergo; 験 (ken/tame-) — test, trial, examine; 者 (sha/mono) — person
• Pronunciation: /hi.ke.ɴ.ɕa/

Meaning

Research participant; test subject; a person who takes part in a scientific experiment or clinical trial and undergoes tests or procedures as part of the study.

A formal noun used in clinical research, psychology, and medical studies. Ethical treatment of 被験者 is governed by research ethics principles such as the Declaration of Helsinki and informed consent (インフォームド・コンセント). Modern usage increasingly favours 参加者 in social science to avoid objectifying connotations, but 被験者 remains standard in clinical and experimental contexts.

Examples

1. 実験を開始する前に被験者全員から文書による同意を取得した。 Written consent was obtained from all participants before the experiment began.
2. 被験者を無作為にプラセボ群と投薬群に割り振り、二重盲検試験を実施した。 Participants were randomly assigned to either the placebo group or the medication group, and a double-blind trial was conducted.
3. 被験者の個人情報は研究終了後も厳重に管理・保護される。 Participants' personal information is strictly managed and protected even after the study is completed.

Usage Guide

Context: clinical research, psychology, medicine, academic writing

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 被験 (hiken — being tested/examined, from 被 'to receive/undergo' + 験 'test, trial') and 者 (sha — person). Literally 'a person who undergoes examination'.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Academic and professional

Social background: Professional