Japanese word

生き物

Pronunciation

Romajiikimono

この森にはたくさんの生き物がいます。ko no mori ni wa ta ku sa n no i ki mono ga i ma su

There are many animals in this forest.

植物も生き物です。shoku butsu mo i ki mono de su

Plants are living things, too.

庭で小さな生き物を見つけました。niwa de chii sa na i ki mono o mi tsu ke ma shi ta

I found a small animal in the garden.

Refers to a living being viewed as a distinct creature, often an animal.

動物dōbutsu: A living creature that feeds, moves, and reacts to changes around it.

生命を持つもの。特に、動物や昆虫などを指すことが多い。sei mei o mo tsu mo no toku ni dō butsu ya kon chū na do o sa su ko to ga ō i

The noun 生き物 (ikimono) combines 生き (iki, "living"), the ren'yōkei of 生きる (ikiru, "to live"), with 物 (mono, "thing").

In everyday conversation, 生き物 (ikimono) often refers to animals as a broad group, including small creatures that speakers might not call animals individually.