Japanese word

恐竜

Pronunciation

Romajikyōryū

Meaning

  • noundinosaur

Example

子どもたちは公園で恐竜の模型を見ました。ko do mo ta chi wa kō en de kyō ryū no mo kei o mi ma shi ta

The children saw a dinosaur model in the park.

Illustration for 恐竜 (dinosaur)

More examples

博物館で恐竜を見ます。haku butsu kan de kyō ryū o mi ma su

I see a dinosaur at the museum.

博物館で本物の恐竜の化石を見ました。haku butsu kan de hon mono no kyō ryū no ka seki o mi ma shi ta

I saw a real dinosaur fossil at the museum.

Core concept

Refers to an extinct animal that lived mainly on land during the Mesozoic Era and is often imagined as large and powerful.

Common phrases

  • 恐竜の化石kyō ryū no ka seki

    dinosaur fossil

  • 恐竜の卵kyō ryū no tamago

    dinosaur egg

  • 恐竜の骨格kyō ryū no kok kaku

    dinosaur skeleton

Definition in Japanese

中生代に地上で栄え、現在は絶滅している大型の爬虫類などの総称。chū sei dai ni chi jō de saka e gen zai wa zetsu metsu shi te i ru ō gata no ha chū rui na do no sō shō

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 恐竜 (kyōryū, "terrible dragon") combines 恐 (kyō, "fear") and 竜 (ryū, "dragon").

Usage tips

  • In English, dinosaur can also describe a person or thing that seems old-fashioned or unable to keep up with change.

Word lists with this word