“Bear” in Japanese is 熊 (くま), pronounced kuma.
Pronunciation
The word has 2 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Bear. Wild bears live in the mountains of Hokkaido and northern Honshu, and cute bear mascots are everywhere, like Kumamon from Kumamoto.
Example sentences
- 山に熊がいます。やまにくまがいます。There are bears in the mountains.
- 熊のぬいぐるみをもらいました。くまのぬいぐるみをもらいました。I got a teddy bear.
Quick practice
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Related words: Animals
FAQ
How do you say bear in Japanese?
Bear in Japanese is 熊 (くま), pronounced “kuma”.
How do you write bear in Japanese?
It's written 熊 with kanji, or くま in hiragana. Both are read kuma.