How to Say "Squirrel" in Japanese

リス

risu

The Japanese word for squirrel is リス (risu).

リス is a noun used to refer to the rodent known as a squirrel.

Meaning: rodent (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

risu

The word リス is a loanword from the Portuguese word 'esquilo', rather than coming from the native Japanese vocabulary.
To describe the chubby cheeks of a リス, Japanese speakers use the onomatopoeia もちもち, which specifically mimics the texture of 'mochi' rice cakes.
The Japanese word for 'flying squirrel' is ムササビ or モモンガ, which are completely different words from リス.

トムはリスを見た。
Tom saw a squirrel.
This sentence is useful for describing the action of seeing a リス.
Tatoeba #7798739 by Ninja, translation #7798731 by CK
リスは冬眠中です。
The squirrel is hibernating.
This sentence is useful for describing the state of a リス being in hibernation.
Tatoeba #11556454 by small_snow, translation #3135691 by Hybrid
あれはリスだったの？
Was that a squirrel?
This sentence is useful for asking for confirmation about whether something was a リス.
Tatoeba #8716607 by bunbuku, translation #3385963 by Hybrid
私は公園でリスを見ました。
I saw a squirrel at the park.
彼女はリスの絵を描いています。
She is drawing a picture of a squirrel.
リスの行動は興味深いです。
The behavior of squirrels is interesting.
25 more sentences on Tatoeba

Misaki and Yota are walking in a forest.

美咲 Misaki

陽太、見て！リスがいるよ！
Yota, mite! Risu ga iru yo!
Yota, look! There is a squirrel!
陽太 Yota

本当だ、小さなリスだね。
Hontou da, chiisana risu dane.
You're right, it's a tiny squirrel.
美咲 Misaki

あ、リスが逃げちゃった。
A, risu ga nigechatta.
Ah, the squirrel ran away.
陽太 Yota

残念だけど、凄く可愛かったよ。
Zannen dakedo, sugoku kawaikatta yo.
That's too bad, but it was very cute.

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