Language/Japanese/Vocabulary/Animals
Hi Japanese learners! ๐
In this lesson, we will learn about animals in Japanese.
Vocabulary
Let's start with some basic animals:
| Japanese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ็ซ (ใญใ) | neko | Cat |
| ็ฌ (ใใฌ) | inu | Dog |
| ้ณฅ (ใจใ) | tori | Bird |
| ้ญ (ใใใช) | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| ็ฅ้ณฅ (ใใใกใใ) | jinchou | Pheasant |
| ็ฟ (ใใ) | saru | Monkey |
| ๆตท็ฃ (ใใใใ ใ) | kaijuu | Marine animal |
| ่ (ใใใ) | 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: ใใฎใใใใฟใพใใใใใใใฎ็ซใๅฏๆใใงใใญใ (Excuse me, sorry. That cat over there is cute, isn't it?)
Person 2: ใใใใใใงใใญใ็งใ็ซใๅฅฝใใงใใ (Yes, it is. I also like cats.)
Person 1: ใใใงใฏใใฉใใช็จฎ้กใฎ็ซใๅฅฝใใงใใ๏ผ (So, what kind of cat do you like?)
Person 2: ใใฎใ็งใฏใทใฃใ ็ซใๅฅฝใใงใใ (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 | ใใ |
| Frog | ใใใ |
| Marine animal | ใจใ |
| Monkey | ็ฌ |
| Pheasant | ใใใใ ใ |
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. ๐
โก If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
โก Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. ๐