チスイコウモリ
chisukoumori
The Japanese word for vampire bat is チスイコウモリ (chisukoumori).
チスイコウモリ is a noun used to refer to the bats belonging to the subfamily Desmodontinae.
Meaning: bat of the subfamily Desmodontinae (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The term is composed of chisui, which means blood-sucking and koumori, which means bat.
Which one should you use?
The word can also be written using kanji as 吸血コウモリ, where 吸血 means blood-sucking.
How do you pronounce it?
chisukoumori
Did you know?
- In Japanese, the word for bat koumori is often used as a metaphor for a person who changes their political affiliation or loyalties to suit their own advantage.
- The term koumori is thought to derive from an old word meaning 'night-bird', reflecting a historical misunderstanding of the animal's classification.
- While chisui is the technical term for blood-sucking, the word kyuuketsu is used for the fictional 'vampires' of movies and novels, such as kyuuketsu-ki.
Examples in context
- 吸血（きゅうけつ）コウモリは、血液だけで生き残れることを知っていますか？Did you know that vampire bats can survive solely on blood?
- 吸血（きゅうけつ）コウモリは中南米が原産です。Vampire bats are native to Central and South America.
- チスイコウモリは珍しい動物です。Chisuikoumori wa mezurashii doubutsu desu.The vampire bat is a rare animal.
- 博物館でチスイコウモリを見ました。Hakubutsukan de chisuikoumori o mimashita.I saw a vampire bat at the museum.
- チスイコウモリの生態を調べています。Chisuikoumori no seitai o shirabete imasu.I am researching the ecology of the vampire bat.
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are talking about a nature documentary.
- 美咲 Misakiさっきのドキュメンタリーにチスイコウモリが出ていたよ。Sakki no dokyumentari ni chisuikoumori ga dete ita yo.A vampire bat appeared in that documentary just now.
- 健太 Kentaあ、あの少し怖い見た目のやつだね。A, ano sukoshi kowai mitame no yatsu dane.Ah, the one with that slightly scary look.
- 美咲 Misakiそう、健太君は怖くない？Sou, Kenta-kun wa kowakunai?Yes, aren't you scared, Kenta?
- 健太 Kenta少しだけ怖いけど、興味深いよ。Sukoshi dake kowai kedo, kyoumibukai yo.I'm a little scared, but it's interesting.
