“Animal” in Japanese is 動物 (どうぶつ), pronounced dōbutsu.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
The general word for animal. A zoo is 動物園 (dōbutsuen), literally “animal garden”.
Example sentences
- どんな動物が好きですか。どんなどうぶつがすきですか。What kind of animals do you like?
- 動物園に行きました。どうぶつえんにいきました。I went to the zoo.
Quick practice
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What does {{動物}} mean?
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Which word means “elephant”?
Related words: Animals
FAQ
How do you say animal in Japanese?
Animal in Japanese is 動物 (どうぶつ), pronounced “dōbutsu”.
How do you write animal in Japanese?
It's written 動物 with kanji, or どうぶつ in hiragana. Both are read dōbutsu.
Is 動物 on the JLPT?
Yes. 動物 (dōbutsu) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.