獣

• 読み: けもの
• ローマ字: kemono
• 漢字の分解: 獣 (kemono/juu) — beast, wild animal, brute
• 発音: /ke.mo.no/

意味

Beast; wild animal; brute. A general term for four-legged wild mammals.

A noun referring to wild mammals, especially four-legged animals like bears, wolves, and deer. Carries a primal, untamed nuance — more evocative than 動物 (doubutsu, animal), which is neutral and includes all animals. Can also be used figuratively to describe someone who behaves savagely. In modern pop culture, けもの is widely recognised from anime and media. The kanji 獣 also appears in compounds like 野獣 (yajuu, wild beast) and 怪獣 (kaijuu, monster).

例文

1. 森の奥から獣の鳴き声が聞こえた。
2. この山には野生の獣がたくさん住んでいる。
3. 夜になると獣が里に下りてくることがある。

使い方ガイド

場面: nature, wildlife, literature

トーン: evocative

起源と歴史

From Old Japanese. The kanji 獣 combines 犬 (dog radical, indicating an animal) with phonetic elements. Originally referred to any four-legged animal hunted for food or fur.

文化的背景

時代: Ancient

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal