ゴキブリ
gokiburi[ɡo̞kʲibɯ̟ɾʲi]
The Japanese word for cockroach is ゴキブリ (gokiburi). Wiktionary also lists アマメ (amame).
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ゴキブリ | gokiburi | [ɡo̞kʲibɯ̟ɾʲi] (narrow) | |
| アマメ | amame | Kyushu |
The term is used to refer to the type of insect known as a cockroach.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Kyushu region, the term アマメ is used to refer to a cockroach.
How do you pronounce it?
gokiburi
Did you know?
- In internet slang, ゴキブリ is used as a derogatory term for overzealous fans of Sony products.
- The word ゴキブリ is written in katakana, which is often used for animals and plants to make them stand out in a text.
Examples in context
- ベッドの下に、ゴキブリ！There's a cockroach under the bed!This sentence shows how to point out the location of a ゴキブリ.Tatoeba #11483525 by small_snow, translation #6029159 by Huskion
- ほら！冷蔵庫の横にゴキブリがいるでしょ！早くなんとかして！Look! There's a cockroach besides the fridge! Do something quick!This sentence illustrates an urgent request to deal with a ゴキブリ.Tatoeba #1070932 by bunbuku, translation #2658365 by WestofEden
- 会議室で死んだゴキブリを見つけた。I have found a dead cockroach in the meeting room.This sentence is useful for describing finding a dead ゴキブリ in a specific room.Tatoeba #14046805 by Shiomizukidesu, translation #1650231 by Amastan
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are cleaning the kitchen at home.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、見て！あそこにゴキブリがいる！A, mite! Asoko ni gokuburi ga iru!Ah, look! There is a cockroach over there!
- 大翔 Hirotoうわ、本当だ。気持ち悪いなあ。Uwa, hontou da. Kimochi warui naa.Ugh, you're right. That's gross.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、早く捕まえて！Hiroto-kun, hayaku tsukamaete!Hiroto, catch it quickly!
- 大翔 Hirotoわかったよ、任せて。Wakatta yo, makasete.Okay, leave it to me.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockroach” translations and entries ゴキブリ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ゴキブリ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
