兎
A small mammal with long ears, powerful hind legs, and a short tail, known for its ability to hop. In Japan, it is a popular animal appearing in folklore, the zodiac, and as a common pet.
Examples
3 of 5公園で可愛い兎を見ました。
I saw a cute rabbit at the park.
本日は、兎の生態に関する展示をご案内いたします。
Today, I will guide you through the exhibit regarding the ecology of rabbits.
見て、あの兎、耳がすごく長いよ！
Look, that rabbit has really long ears!
Word Family
Memory Tip
Look at the Kanji 兎: the top parts are the long ears, the middle is the body, and that little extra stroke inside/at the bottom is the rabbit's short tail.
Quick Quiz
小学校で白い___を二羽飼っています。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 兎
Examples
公園で可愛い兎を見ました。
everydayI saw a cute rabbit at the park.
本日は、兎の生態に関する展示をご案内いたします。
formalToday, I will guide you through the exhibit regarding the ecology of rabbits.
見て、あの兎、耳がすごく長いよ！
informalLook, that rabbit has really long ears!
兎は草食性であり、主に高原や草原に生息している。
academicRabbits are herbivorous and primarily inhabit plateaus and grasslands.
新商品のロゴには、素早さを象徴する兎を採用しました。
businessFor the new product logo, we adopted a rabbit to symbolize speed.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず
If you run after two hares, you will catch neither.
脱兎の勢い
With the speed of a fleeing rabbit (extremely fast).
兎の昼寝
A rabbit's nap (overconfidence leading to failure, referring to the tortoise and hare).
Often Confused With
The kanji for 'escape/excuse' (免) looks almost identical to 'rabbit' (兎) but lacks the dot/stroke representing the tail.
Usage Notes
In modern Japanese, this word is most commonly written in Katakana (ウサギ) or Hiragana (うさぎ). The Kanji version (兎) is used in literature, names, and formal idioms.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use the general animal counter 'hiki' (匹), which is acceptable in daily life, but formally and traditionally, rabbits are counted with 'wa' (羽), the counter for birds.
Memory Tip
Look at the Kanji 兎: the top parts are the long ears, the middle is the body, and that little extra stroke inside/at the bottom is the rabbit's short tail.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old Japanese word 'usagi', the origin of which is debated but may be related to 'u' (prefix) and 'sagi' (indicating ears or appearance).
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In Japanese culture, rabbits are associated with the moon; folklore suggests that the craters on the moon look like a rabbit pounding mochi (rice cakes).
Quick Quiz
小学校で白い___を二羽飼っています。
Correct!
The correct answer is: 兎
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
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A1Cooperation or collaboration where two or more people combine their efforts to achieve a common goal. It is used in both personal and professional settings to describe working together as a team or providing assistance.
提案
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輸出
A1The act of sending goods or services produced in one country to another country for sale or trade. In Japanese, it functions as a noun and a suru-verb, representing the 'exit' of products from a domestic market.
輸入
A1The act of bringing goods, services, or materials into a country from abroad for sale or use. In Japanese, it functions as a noun or can be combined with 'suru' to become a verb meaning 'to import'.
資源
A1Shigen refers to valuable materials or assets, such as natural minerals, energy sources, or human talent, that can be used for production or survival. It is widely used in economics, environmental science, and daily life to describe both raw materials and abstract wealth.
観察
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競争
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製造
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購入
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交渉
A1Koushou refers to the process of talking with someone to reach an agreement or settle a deal. It is used when two sides have different goals and try to find a middle ground or a solution that works for both.
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