猪
inoshishi[ino̞ɕiɕi]
The English phrase 'wild boar' is translated into Japanese as 猪 (inoshishi). Wiktionary also lists 野猪 (yacho).
Meaning: Sus scrofa (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 猪 | inoshishi | [ino̞ɕiɕi] (narrow) [i] (narrow) |
| 野猪 | yacho | [ja̠t͡ɕo̞] (narrow) [no̞ʑiɕi] (narrow) |
Both terms refer to the wild boar (Sus scrofa).
Which one should you use?
猪 (read as inoshishi) is the most common way to refer to the wild boar in everyday Japanese. In contrast, 野猪 (read as yacho) is a more technical or biological term.
How do you pronounce it?
inoshishi
Did you know?
- In the traditional Japanese zodiac, the 'Year of the Pig' is represented by the 猪 (wild boar) rather than a domestic pig.
- The term 猪突猛進 uses the word 猪 to describe a 'headlong rush' or 'charging blindly forward' into a situation.
- In some contexts, the word 猪 can be used metaphorically to describe a person who is stubborn, reckless, or lacks tact, much like the animal's perceived temperament.
Examples in context
- 山に猪が現れた。Yama ni inoshishi ga arawareta.A wild boar appeared in the mountains.
- 猪の足跡を見つけた。Inoshishi no ashiato o mitsuketa.I found wild boar footprints.
- 猪はとても強い動物だ。Inoshishi wa totemo tsuyoi doubutsu da.The wild boar is a very strong animal.
Example conversation
A man and a woman are hiking in the mountains.
- 陽太 Yotaあそこに猪がいるよ！Asoko ni inoshishi ga iru yo!There is a wild boar over there!
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、本当？怖いよ。E, hontou? Kowai yo.Eh, really? That's scary.
- 陽太 Yota離れていこう、結衣。Hanarete ikou, Yui.Let's move away, Yui.
- 結衣 Yuiわかった、陽太。Wakatta, Youta.Okay, Youta.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wild boar” translations and entries 猪, 野猪, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
