Japanese word

コウモリ

Pronunciation

Romajikōmori

Meaning

  • nounbat

Example

本でコウモリの写真を見ました。hon de kō mo ri no sha shin o mi ma shi ta

I saw a picture of a bat in a book.

Illustration for コウモリ (bat)

More examples

コウモリは暗い場所でよく活動します。kō mo ri wa kura i ba sho de yo ku katsu dō shi ma su

Bats are often active in dark places.

Core concept

It refers to a flying mammal whose forelimbs form wings with skin stretched between long fingers.

Common phrases

  • コウモリの羽kō mo ri no hane

    a bat's wing

  • コウモリの群れkō mo ri no mu re

    a group of bats

  • コウモリを見るkō mo ri o mi ru

    see a bat

Definition in Japanese

前肢の間などにある皮膜を翼として飛ぶ哺乳類。zen shi no aida na do ni a ru hi maku o tsubasa to shi te to bu ho nyū rui

Word origin

The native Japanese noun コウモリ (kōmori, "bat") is also written 蝙蝠 (kōmori, "bat"); older Japanese records use かはほり (kawahori, "bat"), but the later form's exact development is uncertain.

Usage tips

  • In English, bat can mean either the flying mammal or a club used to hit a ball, so surrounding words identify the intended meaning.

Word lists with this word