Japanese word

渡り鳥

Pronunciation

Romajiwataridori

Meaning

  • nounmigratory bird

Example

毎年、渡り鳥が同じ場所に戻ってきます。mai toshi wata ri dori ga ona ji ba sho ni modo tte ki ma su

The migratory birds return to the same place every year.

Illustration for 渡り鳥 (migratory bird)

More examples

秋になると、渡り鳥が南へ飛び立ちます。aki ni na ru to wata ri dori ga minami e to bi ta chi ma su

In autumn, migratory birds fly south.

Core concept

Describes a bird that moves between different regions at regular times of the year as part of its life cycle.

Common phrases

  • 渡り鳥の群れwata ri dori no mu re

    flock of migratory birds

  • 渡り鳥の飛来wata ri dori no hi rai

    arrival of migratory birds

Definition in Japanese

季節に応じて繁殖地と越冬地などの間を移動する鳥。ki setsu ni ō ji te han shoku chi to et tō chi na do no aida o i dō su ru tori

Word origin

The compound 渡り (watari, "crossing or migration") + 鳥 (tori, "bird") uses the noun form of 渡る (wataru, "to cross") for a bird that travels between regions.

Usage tips

  • The Arctic tern is a well-known example of a 渡り鳥 (wataridori) because it travels between the Arctic and Antarctic each year.

Opposites

  • 留鳥ryūchōresident birdnoun

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