Japanese Conversation · Level 43
90 words
Japanese word
小鳥
Pronunciation
Romajikotori
Meaning
- nounlittle bird
Example
庭に小鳥がいます。niwa ni ko tori ga i ma su
There is a little bird in the garden.
More examples
妹は図鑑で小鳥の名前を調べています。imōto wa zu kan de ko tori no na mae o shira be te i ma su
My younger sister is looking up the names of little birds in a picture book.
Core concept
Presents a bird by focusing on its small size rather than its species.
Common phrases
小鳥の名前ko tori no na mae
the name of a little bird
小鳥の写真ko tori no sha shin
a picture of a little bird
小鳥を観察するko tori o kan satsu su ru
observe a little bird
Definition in Japanese
体の小さい鳥を指す語。karada no chii sa i tori o sa su go
Word origin
小鳥 (kotori, "little bird") is formed from the native elements 小 (ko, "small") and 鳥 (tori, "bird").
Usage tips
- The sound ことり (kotori, "a light, small sound") is also used as an onomatopoeic word, but it is written differently from 小鳥 (kotori, "little bird").