分泌

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 分泌 is read as ぶんぴつ and is a noun and する verb for an organ or cell producing and releasing a substance such as saliva, a hormone, or fluid.
• Basic usage: Passive release appears in 唾液が分泌される, while an organism’s action appears in 液体を分泌する.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Difference from 排出
  • 排出 broadly means sending material out; 分泌 is a physiological process of producing and releasing a particular substance.
• Active and passive
  • Use 分泌される when the substance is released and 分泌する when the organ or organism performs the secretion.