孔雀
kujaku[kɯ̟ʑa̠kɯ̟]
The Japanese word for peacock is 孔雀 (kujaku). Wiktionary also lists ピーコック (pīkokku).
Meaning: pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 孔雀 | kujaku | [kɯ̟ʑa̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| ピーコック | pīkokku |
The term refers to the pheasant of one of the genera Pavo and Afropavo.
Which one should you use?
The kanji form 孔雀 is the standard way to write the word, whereas ピーコック is a loanword from English. While ピーコック can be used to refer to the bird, it is less common than the native term.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
孔雀 is a formal and general term.
How do you pronounce it?
kujaku
Did you know?
- In Japanese Buddhism, the 孔雀 is regarded as a sacred bird capable of consuming poisonous snakes without being harmed.
- The kanji for 孔雀 consists of two characters: '孔' meaning 'hole' and '雀' meaning 'sparrow'.
- While 孔雀 is the formal term, the loanword ピーコック is frequently used in modern Japanese branding and fashion to evoke a Western feeling.
Examples in context
- 孔雀だよ。いま鳴いたのは孔雀だよ。It's a peacock. It was a peacock that cried just now.This sentence is useful for identifying the sound of the bird using the form 孔雀.Tatoeba #564642 by bunbuku, translation #2719796 by WestofEden
- Watashi wa kujaku ga daisuki desu. (私は孔雀が大好きです。)I love peacocks.
- 孔雀の羽はとても美しいです。Kujaku no hane wa totemo utsukushii desu.The peacock's feathers are very beautiful.
- あの孔雀はどこへ行ったのかな？Ano kujaku wa doko e itta no kana?I wonder where that peacock went?
Example conversation
Two people are watching animals at a zoo.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さん、見て！あそこに孔雀がいるよ。Kenta-san, mite! Asoko ni kujaku ga iru yo.Kenta, look! There is a peacock over there.
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。すごく立派な孔雀だね。Hontou da. Sugoku rippa na kujaku da ne.You're right. It's a very magnificent peacock.
- 陽葵 Himari羽がキラキラしていて綺麗だよ。Hane ga kirakira shite ite kirei da yo.The feathers are sparkling and beautiful.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんの言う通り、本当に綺麗だね。Himari-san no iu toori, hontou ni kirei da ne.Just as you said, Himari, it really is beautiful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “peacock” translations and entries 孔雀, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
