{"id":107154,"date":"2023-08-10T16:28:02","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T20:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/animals-in-japanese\/"},"modified":"2025-05-26T12:06:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T16:06:05","slug":"animals-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/animals-in-japanese\/","title":{"rendered":"97 Animals in Japanese (with Audio and PDF)"},"content":{"rendered":"

We talk about animals a lot more than we realize:\u00a0We have our lion’s share of animal idioms, we give humans animal characteristics and we gush about our pets.<\/p>\n

If you’re studying Japanese, you’ll need to know at least a few animal terms, since Japanese people are just like everyone else when it comes to our mutual obsession with fuzzy creatures.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Common Pets in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"dog<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u30d5\u30a7\u30ec\u30c3\u30c8 <\/a>\n <\/td>feretto<\/em><\/td>ferret<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30cf\u30e0\u30b9\u30bf\u30fc <\/a>\n <\/td>hamusut\u0101<\/em><\/td>hamster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30cf\u30ea\u30cd\u30ba\u30df <\/a>\n <\/td>harinezumi<\/em><\/td>hedgehog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u72ac <\/a>\n <\/td>inu<\/em><\/td>dog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ab\u30e1 <\/a>\n <\/td>kame<\/em><\/td>turtle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5b50\u732b <\/a>\n <\/td>koneko<\/em><\/td>kitten<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5b50\u72ac <\/a>\n <\/td>koinu<\/em><\/td>puppy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u732b <\/a>\n <\/td>neko<\/em><\/td>cat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9f20 <\/a>\n <\/td>nezumi<\/em><\/td>mouse \/ rat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30aa\u30a6\u30e0 <\/a>\n <\/td>\u014dmu<\/em><\/td>parrot<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9b5a <\/a>\n <\/td>sakana<\/em><\/td>fish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30cb\u30ef\u30c8\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>tori<\/em><\/td>bird<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u514e <\/a>\n <\/td>usagi<\/em><\/td>rabbit<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Farm Animals in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"cows<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u8c5a <\/a>\n <\/td>buta<\/em><\/td>pig<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7f8a <\/a>\n <\/td>hitsuji<\/em><\/td>sheep<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9d8f <\/a>\n <\/td>niwatori<\/em><\/td>chicken<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9d28 <\/a>\n <\/td>kamo<\/em><\/td>duck<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ed\u30d0 <\/a>\n <\/td>roba<\/em><\/td>donkey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4e03\u9762\u9ce5 <\/a>\n <\/td>shichimench\u014d<\/em><\/td>turkey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u99ac <\/a>\n <\/td>uma<\/em><\/td>horse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u725b (\u30a6\u30b7) <\/a>\n <\/td>ushi<\/em><\/td>cow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5c71\u7f8a <\/a>\n <\/td>yagi<\/em><\/td>goat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Sea Creatures in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"bluefin<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u30a2\u30b6\u30e9\u30b7 <\/a>\n <\/td>azarashi<\/em><\/td>seal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30a8\u30d3 <\/a>\n <\/td>ebi<\/em><\/td>shrimp<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30cf\u30de\u30b0\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>hamaguri<\/em><\/td>clam<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30a4\u30eb\u30ab <\/a>\n <\/td>iruka<\/em><\/td>dolphin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30a4\u30ab <\/a>\n <\/td>ika<\/em><\/td>squid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u4f0a\u52e2\u30a8\u30d3 <\/a>\n <\/td>ise-ebi<\/em><\/td>lobster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ab\u30ad <\/a>\n <\/td>kaki<\/em><\/td>oyster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30d2\u30c8\u30c7 <\/a>\n <\/td>hitode<\/em><\/td>starfish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u87f9 <\/a>\n <\/td>kani<\/em><\/td>crab<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30af\u30e9\u30b2 <\/a>\n <\/td>kurage<\/em><\/td>jellyfish<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9be8 <\/a>\n <\/td>kujira<\/em><\/td>whale<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30de\u30f3\u30bf\u30ec\u30a4 <\/a>\n <\/td>manta rei<\/em><\/td>manta ray<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ca\u30de\u30b3 <\/a>\n <\/td>namako<\/em><\/td>sea cucumber<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ed\u30d6\u30b9\u30bf\u30fc <\/a>\n <\/td>robusut\u0101<\/em><\/td>lobster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9bab <\/a>\n <\/td>same<\/em><\/td>shark<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30bf\u30c4\u30ce\u30aa\u30c8\u30b7\u30b4 <\/a>\n <\/td>tatsunootoshigo<\/em><\/td>seahorse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30bf\u30b3 <\/a>\n <\/td>tako<\/em><\/td>octopus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u6d77\u4e80 <\/a>\n <\/td>umigame<\/em><\/td>sea turtle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30a6\u30ca\u30ae <\/a>\n <\/td>unagi<\/em><\/td>eel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30a6\u30cb <\/a>\n <\/td>uni<\/em><\/td>sea urchin<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Animals with Wings in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"sparrows<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u8776\u3005 <\/a>\n <\/td>ch\u014dch\u014d<\/em><\/td>butterfly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30d5\u30af\u30ed\u30a6 <\/a>\n <\/td>fukurou<\/em><\/td>owl<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u86fe <\/a>\n <\/td>ga<\/em><\/td>moth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9ce9 <\/a>\n <\/td>hato<\/em><\/td>pigeon\/dove<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u96bc (\u30cf\u30e4\u30d6\u30b5) <\/a>\n <\/td>hayabusa<\/em><\/td>falcon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u70cf (\u30ab\u30e9\u30b9) <\/a>\n <\/td>karasu<\/em><\/td>crow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u871c\u8702 <\/a>\n <\/td>mitsubachi<\/em><\/td>bee<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u96c0 <\/a>\n <\/td>suzume<\/em><\/td>sparrow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30c4\u30d0\u30e1 <\/a>\n <\/td>tsubame<\/em><\/td>swallow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9db4 <\/a>\n <\/td>tsuru<\/em><\/td>crane<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9df9 <\/a>\n <\/td>taka<\/em><\/td>hawk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9df2 <\/a>\n <\/td>washi<\/em><\/td>eagle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Wild Animals in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"snow<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u7a74\u718a <\/a>\n <\/td>anaguma<\/em><\/td>badger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u732a <\/a>\n <\/td>inoshishi<\/em><\/td>wild boar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30a4\u30bf\u30c1 <\/a>\n <\/td>itachi<\/em><\/td>weasel<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ad\u30ea\u30f3 <\/a>\n <\/td>kirin<\/em><\/td>giraffe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u72d0 <\/a>\n <\/td>kitsune<\/em><\/td>fox<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30b3\u30a6\u30e2\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>k\u014dmori<\/em><\/td>bat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u718a <\/a>\n <\/td>kuma<\/em><\/td>bear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30cb\u30db\u30f3\u30b6\u30eb <\/a>\n <\/td>nihonzaru<\/em><\/td>snow monkey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u72fc <\/a>\n <\/td>\u014dkami<\/em><\/td>wolf<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30d1\u30f3\u30c0 <\/a>\n <\/td>panda<\/em><\/td>panda<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u733f <\/a>\n <\/td>saru<\/em><\/td>monkey<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9e7f <\/a>\n <\/td>shika<\/em><\/td>deer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30e9\u30a4\u30aa\u30f3 <\/a>\n <\/td>raion<\/em><\/td>lion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u72f8 <\/a>\n <\/td>tanuki<\/em><\/td>raccoon dog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u864e <\/a>\n <\/td>tora<\/em><\/td>tiger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8c61 <\/a>\n <\/td>z\u014d<\/em><\/td>elephant<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Reptiles and Amphibians in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"japanese<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u86c7 <\/a>\n <\/td>hebi<\/em><\/td>snake<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30d2\u30ad\u30ac\u30a8\u30eb <\/a>\n <\/td>hikigaeru<\/em><\/td>toad<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30a4\u30e2\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>imori<\/em><\/td>newt<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ab\u30a8\u30eb <\/a>\n <\/td>kaeru<\/em><\/td>frog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30c8\u30ab\u30b2 <\/a>\n <\/td>tokage<\/em><\/td>lizard<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ef\u30cb <\/a>\n <\/td>wani<\/em><\/td>crocodile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30e4\u30e2\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>yamori<\/em><\/td>gecko<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Small Critters in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"grasshopper<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u9752\u866b <\/a>\n <\/td>aomushi<\/em><\/td>caterpillar<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u87fb <\/a>\n <\/td>ari<\/em><\/td>ant<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u86fe <\/a>\n <\/td>ga<\/em><\/td>moth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30b4\u30ad\u30d6\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>gokiburi<\/em><\/td>cockroach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u86cd <\/a>\n <\/td>hotaru<\/em><\/td>firefly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u868a <\/a>\n <\/td>ka<\/em><\/td>mosquito<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8695 <\/a>\n <\/td>kaiko<\/em><\/td>silkworm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ab\u30de\u30ad\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>kamakiri<\/em><\/td>praying mantis<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ab\u30bf\u30c4\u30e0\u30ea <\/a>\n <\/td>katatsumuri<\/em><\/td>snail<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30d0\u30c3\u30bf <\/a>\n <\/td>batta<\/em><\/td>grasshopper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7532\u866b <\/a>\n <\/td>k\u014dchu<\/em><\/td>beetle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30b3\u30aa\u30ed\u30ae <\/a>\n <\/td>k\u014drogi<\/em><\/td>cricket<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8718\u86db <\/a>\n <\/td>kumo<\/em><\/td>spider<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30df\u30df\u30ba <\/a>\n <\/td>mimizu<\/em><\/td>earthworm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30e0\u30ab\u30c7 <\/a>\n <\/td>mukade<\/em><\/td>centipede<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30ce\u30df <\/a>\n <\/td>nomi<\/em><\/td>flea<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5927\u96c0\u8702 <\/a>\n <\/td>\u014dsuzumebachi<\/em><\/td>Japanese giant hornet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8749 <\/a>\n <\/td>semi<\/em><\/td>cicada<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u3066\u3093\u3068\u3046\u866b <\/a>\n <\/td>tent\u014dmushi<\/em><\/td>ladybug<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u30c8\u30f3\u30dc <\/a>\n <\/td>tonbo<\/em><\/td>dragonfly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u591c\u86fe <\/a>\n <\/td>yaga<\/em><\/td>night moth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Animal-related Words in Japanese<\/h2>\n

\"lucky<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Japanese<\/th>Romaji<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
\u52d5\u7269 <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u014dbutsu<\/em><\/td>animals<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u52d5\u7269\u5712 <\/a>\n <\/td>d\u014dbutsuen<\/em><\/td>zoo<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7fbd <\/a>\n <\/td>hane<\/em><\/td>feathers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9aed <\/a>\n <\/td>hige<\/em><\/td>whiskers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u8e44 <\/a>\n <\/td>hizume<\/em><\/td>hooves<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u6bdb <\/a>\n <\/td>ke<\/em><\/td>fur<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u7259 <\/a>\n <\/td>kiba<\/em><\/td>fang \/ tooth<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5634 <\/a>\n <\/td>kuchibashi<\/em><\/td>beak<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u524d\u8db3 <\/a>\n <\/td>maeashi<\/em><\/td>front legs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u62db\u304d\u732b <\/a>\n <\/td>manekineko<\/em><\/td>lucky cat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u6c34\u63bb\u304d <\/a>\n <\/td>mizukaki<\/em><\/td>web \/ flipper<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u732b\u30ab\u30d5\u30a7 <\/a>\n <\/td>neko kaf\u0113<\/em><\/td>cat cafe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5c3e <\/a>\n <\/td>o<\/em> (formal)<\/td>tail<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u3057\u3063\u307d <\/a>\n <\/td>shippo<\/em> (casual)<\/td>tail<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u6c34\u65cf\u9928 <\/a>\n <\/td>suizokukan<\/em><\/td>aquarium<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u722a <\/a>\n <\/td>tsume<\/em><\/td>claws<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u9c57 <\/a>\n <\/td>uroko<\/em><\/td>scales<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u5f8c\u308d\u8db3 <\/a>\n <\/td>ushiroashi<\/em><\/td>back legs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

You can even check out animal sounds in Japanese here:<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-animal-sounds\/<\/p>\n

Why Should I Learn Japanese Animal Words?<\/h2>\n

Need some more convincing? Here are three crucial reasons to add some animal words to your Japanese vocabulary:<\/p>\n