アザラシの赤ちゃん
azarashi no akachan
The English phrase 'baby seal' is translated into Japanese as アザラシの赤ちゃん (azarashi no akachan).
アザラシの赤ちゃん is used to refer specifically to a young seal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of アザラシ (seal), the possessive particle の (of) and 赤ちゃん (baby), literally meaning 'seal's baby'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Japanese, the noun for the animal comes first, followed by the particle の to indicate the relationship to the baby.
How do you pronounce it?
azarashi no akachan
Did you know?
- Japanese has a specific category of words called 'gitaigo' to describe the plump, round appearance of a baby seal, such as ぷにぷに (punipuni).
- The counter used for a baby seal is 匹 (hiki), a specific counter for small to medium-sized animals, rather than the counter for humans or large animals.
- In Japanese, the suffix ちゃん in 赤ちゃん is a diminutive used for endearment, making the term 'baby seal' sound inherently cute to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- 子アザラシが氷の上で遊んでいる。The baby seal is playing on the ice.
- アザラシの赤ちゃんはとてもかわいいです。Azarashi no akachan wa totemo kawaii desu.The baby seal is very cute.
- 水族館でアザラシの赤ちゃんを見ました。Suizokukan de azarashi no akachan o mimashita.I saw a baby seal at the aquarium.
- アザラシの赤ちゃんが氷の上にいます。Azarashi no akachan ga koori no ue ni imasu.There is a baby seal on the ice.
Example conversation
Yui and Hiroto are watching a nature documentary on TV.
- 結衣 Yuiあ、アザラシの赤ちゃんが出てきたよ！A, azarashi no akachan ga detekita yo!Oh, a baby seal appeared!
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ、すごくかわいいね。Hontou da, sugoku kawaii ne.You're right, it's so cute.
- 結衣 Yui大翔くん、このアザラシの赤ちゃんが好き？Hiroto-kun, kono azarashi no akachan ga suki?Hiroto, do you like this baby seal?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、大好きだよ。Un, daisuki da yo.Yeah, I love it.
