バードウォッチング
bādowotchingu
The English phrase "bird watching" is translated into Japanese as バードウォッチング (bādowotchingu).
バードウォッチング refers to the activity of observing birds in their natural habitat as a hobby.
What does it mean word for word?
This term is a loanword from English, transliterated into Katakana as バードウォッチング.
How do you pronounce it?
bādowotchingu
Did you know?
- In Japan, bird watching is often linked to the concept of 森林浴 'shinrin-yoku' or 'forest bathing'. The activity is viewed not just as a hobby, but as a way to improve health through immersion in nature.
- While バードウォッチング is popular, serious hobbyists often prefer 野鳥観察, which translates to 'wild bird observation' and implies a more academic or scientific approach.
- The Katakana spelling of バードウォッチング requires an extra 'u' sound at the end of 'watching'. This is because Japanese syllables cannot end in a consonant other than 'n', so 'watching' becomes ウォッチング 'wotchingu'.
Examples in context
- バードウォッチングは素敵な趣味ですよ。Bird watching is a nice hobby.This sentence shows how to use バードウォッチング when describing it as a hobby.Tatoeba #10655928 by bunbuku, translation #324134 by CK
- 週末はバードウォッチングに行きたいです。Shūmatsu wa bādo watchingu ni ikitai desu.I want to go bird watching this weekend.
- バードウォッチングの道具を買いました。Bādo watchingu no dōgu o kaimashita.I bought some bird watching gear.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are talking about their hobbies at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さんは何か趣味がありますか？Kenta-san wa nanika shumi ga arimasu ka?Kenta, do you have any hobbies?
- 健太 Kentaはい、バードウォッチングが好きです。Hai, bādowotchingu ga suki desu.Yes, I like bird watching.
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね！どこで観察しますか？Ii desu ne! Doko de kansatsu shimasu ka?That's nice! Where do you observe them?
- 健太 Kenta近くの森や公園に行きます。Chikaku no mori ya kōen ni ikimasu.I go to nearby forests and parks.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry バードウォッチング, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
