菌類

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 菌類 is read as きんるい and is a noun for fungi as a biological group, including mushrooms, molds, and yeasts.
• Basic usage: Classification appears in 菌類と植物の違い, while diversity appears in 多様な菌類.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Singular and collective reference
  • English may use fungus for one organism and fungi for a group, while the Japanese form itself does not change for number.
• Difference from plants and bacteria
  • It denotes a biological group distinct from plants and does not mean bacteria alone merely because it contains 菌.