Japanese word

たか

Pronunciation

Romajitaka

Meaning

  • nounhawk

Example

山でたかを見ました。yama de ta ka o mi ma shi ta

I saw a hawk in the mountains.

Illustration for たか (hawk)

More examples

飼育員は傷ついたたかを保護しています。shi iku in wa kizu tsu i ta ta ka o ho go shi te i ma su

The keeper is caring for an injured hawk.

Core concept

Refers to a bird of prey that circles, watches from above, and swiftly seizes smaller animals.

Common phrases

  • たかを飼うta ka o ka u

    keep a hawk

  • たかを放つta ka o hana tsu

    release a hawk

  • たかの巣ta ka no su

    hawk's nest

Definition in Japanese

空から獲物を見つけ、鋭い爪やくちばしで捕らえる猛禽類の鳥。sora ka ra e mono o mi tsu ke surudo i tsume ya ku chi ba shi de to ra e ru mō kin rui no tori

Word origin

たか (taka, "hawk") is a native Japanese word rather than a recent loanword, and the original formation of the word is not known with certainty.

Usage tips

  • The expression hawk-eyed describes a person with exceptionally sharp sight, linking the bird with its reputation for keen observation.

Other meanings

  • falconnoun

Word lists with this word