Japanese word

うさぎ

Pronunciation

Romajiusagi

Meaning

  • nounrabbit

Example

庭にうさぎがいます。niwa ni u sa gi ga i ma su

There is a rabbit in the garden.

Illustration for うさぎ (rabbit)

More examples

公園でうさぎを見ました。kō en de u sa gi o mi ma shi ta

I saw a rabbit at the park.

妹は白いうさぎを飼っています。imōto wa shiro i u sa gi o ka tte i ma su

My younger sister keeps a white rabbit.

Core concept

Describes a familiar long-eared animal that may be called a rabbit or a hare depending on its kind and context.

Common phrases

  • うさぎを飼うu sa gi o ka u

    keep a rabbit

  • うさぎの耳u sa gi no mimi

    rabbit ears

Definition in Japanese

長い耳と発達した後ろ足を持ち、草などを食べるウサギ科の哺乳類。naga i mimi to hat tatsu shi ta ushi ro ashi o mo chi kusa na do o ta be ru u sa gi ka no ho nyū rui

Word origin

The native Japanese word うさぎ (usagi) has an uncertain original derivation; it is commonly written with 兎 (to, "rabbit"), a character borrowed from Chinese.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, うさぎ年 (usagidoshi) means the Year of the Rabbit in the zodiac, so the word appears in calendar and New Year conversations.

Other meanings

  • bunnynoun
  • harenoun

Word lists with this word