Japanese word

熊

Pronunciation

Romajikuma

Meaning

  • nounbear

Example

動物園で熊を見ました。dō butsu en de kuma o mi ma shi ta

I saw a bear at the zoo.

Illustration for 熊 (bear)

More examples

図鑑で熊を見つけました。zu kan de kuma o mi tsu ke ma shi ta

I found a bear in the animal book.

山道で熊の足跡を見つけました。san dō de kuma no ashi ato o mi tsu ke ma shi ta

I found bear tracks on a mountain trail.

Core concept

Describes the powerful, furry animal that lives in forests and other habitats and may be kept in zoos.

Common phrases

  • 熊を見るkuma o mi ru

    see a bear

  • 熊のぬいぐるみkuma no nu i gu ru mi

    stuffed bear

  • 熊出没注意kuma shutsu botsu chū i

    beware of bears

Definition in Japanese

森林などにすみ、厚い毛と強い体を持つ大型の哺乳類。shin rin na do ni su mi atsu i ke to tsuyo i karada o mo tsu ō gata no ho nyū rui

Word origin

熊 (kuma) is an old native Japanese word for the animal, and 熊 is the Chinese character assigned to represent it; no certain meaning-based breakdown of the Japanese word is known.

Usage tips

  • English speakers may know bear as both an animal name and a verb meaning to carry or endure, whereas 熊 (kuma) has the animal meaning.

Word lists with this word