トカゲ
tokage
The Japanese word for lizard is トカゲ (tokage).
トカゲ is a noun used to refer to the reptile known as a lizard. While it is frequently written in the Katakana script as トカゲ, it can also be written using the Kanji characters 蜥蜴.
Meaning: reptile (noun)
Which one should you use?
In Japanese, there is a distinction between a general lizard and a gecko. While トカゲ refers to a lizard, the specific term for a gecko is ヤモリ.
How do you pronounce it?
tokage
Did you know?
- The word ヤモリ for gecko comes from the verb 守る, meaning 'to protect', because geckos were traditionally believed to protect houses from insects.
- The character for lizard 蜥 contains the radical for 'insect' 虫, reflecting an ancient classification system where reptiles and insects were grouped together.
- The kanji for 'lizard' 蜥蜴 is so rare and complex that most Japanese people cannot write it from memory and instead use the katakana トカゲ.
Examples in context
- これはトカゲじゃなくてヤモリだよ。This is not a lizard, it's a gecko.This sentence is useful for distinguishing a lizard from a gecko using トカゲ.Tatoeba #10901904 by small_snow, translation #11383687 by MrJuice
- 君のトカゲは、たとえフラッフィーと名付け育てたところでその愛に応えてくれはしない。Your lizard will never love you back, even if you nurture it and name it Fluffy.This sentence uses トカゲ to describe a pet lizard.Tatoeba #6855697 by Sonata, translation #6843297 by Orava
- 彼女はももにトカゲの入れ墨がついています。She has a tattoo of a lizard on her thigh.This sentence uses トカゲ to describe a tattoo of a lizard.Tatoeba #827243 by Scott, translation #543551 by darinmex
- 田中さん、ご存知ですか？その木の上には小さなトカゲがいますよ。Mr. Tanaka, did you know? There is a small lizard on that tree.
- 奥田先生、この標本はトカゲの化石ですか？Professor Okuda, is this specimen a lizard fossil?
Example conversation
A young woman and a man are looking at a small creature in a park.
- 美咲 Misakiあ、あそこにトカゲがいるよ！A, asoko ni tokage ga iru yo!Oh, there is a lizard over there!
- 陽太 Yota本当だ、すごく速いね。Hontou da, sugoku hayai ne.You're right, it's very fast.
- 美咲 Misaki逃げちゃう前に写真を撮りたいな。Nigechau mae ni shashin o toritai na.I want to take a photo before it runs away.
- 陽太 Yotaあ、逃げちゃったよ。A, nigechatta yo.Ah, it ran away.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry トカゲ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
