Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Animals

Japanese Vocabulary - Animals

Hi Japanese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about animals in Japanese.

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Transport, Days of the Week, Basic Workplace and Business Terminology & Basic Directions and Transportation.

Vocabulary

Let's start with some basic animals:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
猫 (ねこ)	neko	Cat
犬 (いぬ)	inu	Dog
鳥 (とり)	tori	Bird
魚 (さかな)	sakana	Fish

It's important to note that Japanese people refer to animals by the sound they make. For example, a frog is called "kaeru" because that's the sound they make in Japan.

Here are some more animals you might encounter in Japan:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
キジ	kiji	Pheasant
猿 (さる)	saru	Monkey
海獣 (かいじゅう)	kaijuu	Marine animal
蛙 (かえる)	kaeru	Frog

Japanese people also have cultural associations with certain animals. For example, the crane is a symbol of longevity and good luck. The tanuki, a raccoon-like animal, is a symbol of mischief and trickery.

Interesting Facts

- Japan has a cat island called "Tashirojima" where the cat population is larger than the human population.

- In Japan, deer are considered sacred creatures and roam freely in Nara, a city in the Kansai region. Visitors are allowed to feed the deer special crackers, called "shika senbei."

- The Japanese Macaque, also known as the Snow Monkey, is the northernmost, non-human primate. They are famous for their habit of bathing in hot springs during the winter months.

Dialogue

Person 1: あのう、すみません。あそこの猫、可愛いですね。 (Excuse me, sorry. That cat over there is cute, isn't it?)

Person 2: ええ、そうですね。私も猫が好きです。 (Yes, it is. I also like cats.)

Person 1: それでは、どんな種類の猫が好きですか？ (So, what kind of cat do you like?)

Person 2: あの、私はシャム猫が好きです。 (Um, I like Siamese cats.)

Practice

Now it's time to practice some of the vocabulary you learned! Try to match the animal with its Japanese translation.

English	Japanese
Dog	犬
Frog	カエル
Marine animal	海獣
Monkey	猿
Pheasant	キジ

Conclusion

That's it for today's lesson! Remember, to improve your Japanese Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! Don't forget to practice often and learn about the cultural associations with different animals. 😊

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➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Bird, Family Members in Japanese, Drinks & Counting Numbers and Time.

Other Lessons

• Unique Expressions
• Metals
• How to say Good Bye?
• Family
• Fishies
• Food
• Bird
• Body
• Animal
• Glossary of Japanese martial arts

Sources

• Japanese Animals Words and Vocabulary
• Welcome to the Wild: Animal Names in Japanese
• Japanese Animal Vocabulary: Pronunciation and Characters