烏
karasu[ka̠ɾa̠sɨ]
The English word crow is translated into Japanese as 烏 (karasu). If unsure, use 烏. Wiktionary also lists 慈鳥 (jichō).
Meaning: any bird of the genus Corvus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 烏 | karasu | [ka̠ɾa̠sɨ] (narrow) |
| 慈鳥 | jichō | [d͡ʑit͡ɕo̞ː] (narrow) |
The word refers to any bird of the genus Corvus.
Which one should you use?
The form 烏 is the standard, everyday word for crow used in speech and general writing.
How do you pronounce it?
karasu
Did you know?
- The three-legged crow is so culturally significant that it appears as the official emblem of the Japan Football Association.
- While English speakers might find crows ominous, in Japanese folklore, the crow is often seen as a divine messenger or a symbol of good luck.
- The word 烏 is also used as a prefix for the colour 'black', much like how 'raven' or 'jet' might describe darkness in English.
Examples in context
- カラスは日本の公共の公園でよく見られます。Crows are often seen in public parks in Japan.
- 空に烏が飛んでいます。Sora ni karasu ga tonde imasu.A crow is flying in the sky.
- あの烏はとても大きいです。Ano karasu wa totemo ookii desu.That crow is very large.
- 庭に烏がいます。Niwa ni karasu ga imasu.There is a crow in the garden.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are walking in a park.
- 美咲 Misaki見て、あそこに烏がいるよ。mite, asoko ni karasu ga iru yo.Look, there is a crow over there.
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。何を見ているのかな？hontou da. nani o mite iru no kana?You're right. I wonder what it's looking at.
- 美咲 Misaki私たちのパンを狙っているかも。watashitachi no pan o neratte iru kamo.Maybe it's aiming for our bread.
- 健太 Kenta急いで食べよう！isoide tabeyou!Let's eat quickly!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crow” translations and entries 烏, 慈鳥, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
