キウイ
kiui
The Japanese word for kiwi is キウイ (kiui).
The term キウイ refers to the kiwi bird.
Meaning: bird (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kiui.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'kiwi' to refer to people from New Zealand, using キウイ in Japanese to describe a person would sound strange and likely be mistaken for a comment about fruit or the bird.
- The word キウイ is written in katakana because it is a loanword from English, which adopted the name from the Māori language.
- In Japan, if you say キウイ (kiui) without context, people will almost certainly think you are talking about the fruit rather than the bird. The bird is more specifically called キウイ鳥 (kiui-dori) to avoid confusion.
Examples in context
- 有機キウイです。どうぞご自由にお採り下さい。Organic kiwi fruit. Feel free to help yourself.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use キウイ when referring to the fruit.Tatoeba #3358045 by Harpagornes, translation #3358046 by Harpagornes
- 私はキウイが大好きです。I love kiwis.
- あの人は毎朝キウイを食べます。That person eats kiwis every morning.
- キウイはとても珍しい鳥です。kiui wa totemo mezurashii tori desu.The kiwi is a very rare bird.
- ニュージーランドにはキウイがいます。nyuujiirando ni wa kiui ga imasu.There are kiwis in New Zealand.
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a picture book in a library.
- 大翔 Hirotoこのキウイはとても可愛いね。kono kiui wa totemo kawaii ne.This kiwi is very cute.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ。足が長い鳥だね。hontou da. ashi ga nagai tori dane.You're right. It's a bird with long legs.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、もっと近くで見たい？himari, motto chikaku de mitai?Himari, do you want to see it more closely?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、図鑑でもっと調べたい！un, zukan de motto shirabetai!Yes, I want to research more in the encyclopedia!
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
