How to Say "Lynx" in Japanese

大山猫

ōyamaneko[o̞ːja̠ma̠ne̞ko̞]

The English word "lynx" is translated into Japanese as 大山猫 (ōyamaneko). Wiktionary also lists リンクス (rinkusu).

Meaning: wild cat (noun)

Ways to say it

“lynx” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)	IPA
大山猫	ōyamaneko	[o̞ːja̠ma̠ne̞ko̞] (narrow)
リンクス	rinkusu	[ɾʲĩŋkɯ̟sɨ] (narrow)

Both 大山猫 and リンクス refer to the wild cat known as a lynx.

The word 大山猫 is composed of 大 (big), 山 (mountain) and 猫 (cat).

ōyamaneko

In Japanese folklore, the 山猫 is sometimes conflated with the 狸 (tanuki), a shapeshifting raccoon dog known for tricking humans.
In Japanese typography, the katakana リンクス is often used in video games or manga to give a sense of 'foreign' or 'fantasy' atmosphere.
While 大山猫 literally means 'big mountain cat', the term 山猫 (yamaneko) is frequently used as a colloquial way to refer to any bobcat or wild feline in Japan.

ユーラシア山猫 (yūrashia yamaneko)
Eurasian lynx
大山猫は森のハンターです。
Ooyamaneko wa mori no hantaa desu.
The lynx is a hunter of the forest.
あの大きな耳は、大山猫の特徴です。
Ano ookina mimi wa, ooyamaneko no tokuchou desu.
Those large ears are a characteristic of the lynx.
図鑑に大山猫の絵がありました。
Zukan ni ooyamaneko no e ga arimashita.
There was a picture of a lynx in the guidebook.

Two friends are looking at a nature photography book.

健太 Kenta

この大山猫の写真はとても綺麗ですね。
Kono ooyamaneko no shashin wa totemo kirei desu ne.
This photo of a lynx is very beautiful, isn't it?
陽葵 Himari

本当ですね。力強そうな大山猫です。
Hontou desu ne. Chikarazuyasou na ooyamaneko desu.
It really is. It's a powerful-looking lynx.
健太 Kenta

野生の大山猫はなかなか見られませんよ。
Yasei no ooyamaneko wa nakanaka miraremasen yo.
You can't see a wild lynx very easily, you know.
陽葵 Himari

だから、この写真が貴重なのですね。
Dakara, kono shashin ga kichou na no desu ne.
That's why this photo is so precious.

Sources

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