蟇蛙
hikigaeru[çi̥kʲiɡa̠e̞ɾɯ̟]
The English word "toad" translates to Japanese as 蟇蛙 (hikigaeru) or 蝦蟇.
Meaning: amphibian similar to a frog (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 蟇蛙 | hikigaeru | [çi̥kʲiɡa̠e̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 蝦蟇 | gama | [ɡa̠ma̠] (narrow) [ɡa̠ma̠ɡa̠e̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
Both terms are used to refer to an amphibian similar to a frog.
How do you pronounce it?
hikigaeru
Did you know?
- In Japanese folklore, the 蝦蟇 is often seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. This is because the toad's appearance is associated with the gold-bringing powers of certain mythical creatures.
- The word 蛙 for 'frog' is a homophone for 帰る, meaning 'to return'. Because of this, people sometimes keep frog-themed charms to ensure a safe return home.
- In traditional Japanese medicine, certain extracts from the 蝦蟇 were historically used to treat heart conditions. This practice dates back centuries and influenced how the animal was viewed by healers.
Example sentences for Japanese are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Hiroto and Himari are looking at a small animal in the yard.
- 大翔 Hiroto見て、あそこに蟇蛙がいるよ。Mite, asoko ni gamakazuru ga iru yo.Look, there is a toad over there.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ！なんだか不思議な見た目だね。Hontou da! Nandaka fushigi na mitame da ne.You're right! It looks kind of mysterious.
- 大翔 Hiroto触ったら毒があるかもしれないから気をつけて。Sawattara doku ga aru kamoshirenai kara ki o tsukete.Be careful, because it might be poisonous if you touch it.
- 陽葵 Himariわかった、遠くから見るだけにするね。Wakatta, tooku kara miru dake ni suru ne.I understand, I'll just look at it from a distance.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “toad” translations and entries 蟇蛙, 蝦蟇, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
