恐竜
kyōryū[kʲo̞ːɾʲɨː]
The Japanese word for dinosaur is 恐竜 (kyōryū).
恐竜 is a noun used to refer to prehistoric reptiles.
Meaning: prehistoric reptile (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of 恐 (fear/dread) and 竜 (dragon/reptile), literally translating to "fearful dragon".
How do you pronounce it?
kyōryū
Did you know?
- Japanese children often use the phrase きょうりゅうさん (kyōryū-san), adding a polite honorific to the 'dinosaur'.
- The word was coined by a single individual, the researcher Matajirō Yokoyama, in 1895.
- The term 恐竜 is a direct linguistic transplant, or a calque, of the Latin 'Dinosaurus'.
Examples in context
- 彼は恐竜の骨を盗んだことで非難された。He was accused of stealing dinosaur bones.This sentence shows how to use 恐竜 when discussing the theft of dinosaur bones.Tatoeba #1935110 by avirex, translation #1935061 by Spamster
- 恐竜は、絶滅して久しい動物です。Dinosaurs have been extinct for a long time.
- 今日のテレビ番組は、恐竜に関するドキュメンタリーだった。Today's TV program was a documentary about dinosaurs.
- 恐竜はとても大きかった。kyōryū wa totemo ookikatta.The dinosaur was very big.
- 子供は恐竜の図鑑が好きだ。kodomo wa kyōryū no zukan ga suki da.The child likes dinosaur encyclopedias.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a picture book in a museum.
- 陽太 Yotaこの恐竜はかっこいいね！kono kyōryū wa kakkoii ne!This dinosaur is cool, isn't it!
- 美咲 Misaki本当、迫力があるね。hontō, hakuryoku ga aru ne.Really, it's quite powerful.
- 陽太 Yota美咲は、どの恐竜が好き？misaki wa, dono kyōryū ga suki?Misaki, which dinosaur do you like?
- 美咲 Misaki私はトリケラトプスが好きだよ。watashi wa torikeratopusu ga suki da yo.I like the Triceratops.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dinosaur” translations and entries 恐竜, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 恐竜, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
