うさぎ
usagi
The Japanese word for rabbit is うさぎ (usagi).
The word refers to the mammal known as a rabbit.
Meaning: mammal (noun)
Which one should you use?
While うさぎ is the standard term, 兎 is used in specific contexts and バニー is a loanword from English.
How do you pronounce it?
usagi
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the rabbit is often associated with the moon rather than a carrot. It is a common folk belief that a rabbit is pounding rice cakes on the moon.
- The term うさぎ is used in the phrase うさぎ跳び, which refers to a specific type of 'rabbit jump' exercise common in Japanese elementary school physical education.
- While うさぎ is the most common way to say rabbit, you might see the word written in katakana as ウサギ in scientific biological texts.
Examples in context
- うさぎがいる。There's a rabbit.This sentence shows how to express the presence of a うさぎ.Tatoeba #11358818 by cia_UnitedStatesNa13, translation #12586361 by CK
- うさぎの耳は長い。A rabbit has long ears.This sentence describes a physical characteristic of a うさぎ.Tatoeba #228279 by Sim5634, translation #65634 by Lumi
- うさぎとかめが競走した。A rabbit and a tortoise raced against each other.This sentence uses うさぎ in the context of a race involving a tortoise.Tatoeba #228281 by Sim5634, translation #10550590 by CK
- 私はウサギが大好きです。I love rabbits.
- ウサギは可愛らしい生き物ですね。Rabbits are cute creatures, aren't they?
- 彼は白い兎を見つけました。He found a white rabbit.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is visiting a petting zoo.
- 美咲 Misakiあそこに白いうさぎがいるよ。Asoko ni shiroi usagi ga iru yo.There is a white rabbit over there.
- 大翔 Hiroto本当だ、かわいいね。Hontou da, kawaii ne.You're right, it's cute.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔くん、餌をあげてもいい？Hiroto-kun, esa o agetemo ii?Hiroto, can I give it some food?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、いいよ。Un, ii yo.Yeah, go ahead.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
