雀
suzume[sɨzɨme̞]
The Japanese word for sparrow is 雀 (suzume).
雀 is used generically to refer to any small, nondescript bird.
Meaning: generically, any small, nondescript bird (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
suzume
Did you know?
- The phrase 雀の涙 literally means 'sparrow's tears' and is used to describe a tiny, insignificant amount of money or resources.
- While 雀 refers to the bird, the Japanese word for 'sparrow' is also used in the name of the popular tile game Mahjong, known as 麻雀.
- In Japanese culture, the sparrow is often used as a symbol of the common people or the 'everyman' because they are so ubiquitous.
Examples in context
- 「すずめが庭で餌を食べています。」The sparrows are eating food in the garden.
- 「今朝、ちゅんちゅん鳴くすずめを見かけたよ！」I saw a sparrow chirping 'chun chun' this morning!
- 庭に雀がいます。niwa ni suzume ga imasu.There is a sparrow in the garden.
- あの雀はとても可愛いです。ano suzume wa totemo kawaii desu.That sparrow is very cute.
- 雀が餌を食べています。suzume ga esa o tabete imasu.A sparrow is eating food.
Example conversation
Two people are looking at a bird in a park.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、あそこに雀がいるよ。Himari, asoko ni suzume ga iru yo.Himari, there is a sparrow over there.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ！可愛いね。Hontō da! Kawaii ne.You're right! It's cute.
- 大翔 Hiroto雀はあちこちにいるね。Suzume wa achikochi ni iru ne.Sparrows are everywhere, aren't they?
- 陽葵 Himariそうだね。よく見るよ。Sō da ne. Yoku miru yo.They are. I see them often.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 雀, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
