群れ

• Reading: むれ
• Romaji: mure
• Kanji breakdown: 群 (gun/mure) — group, flock, cluster
• Pronunciation: /mɯ.ɾe/

Meaning

Flock; herd; swarm; pack; crowd. A collective group of animals or people moving or gathered together.

A yamato kotoba noun from the verb 群れる (mureru, to flock together). Used broadly across species — a 群れ of birds is a flock, of fish a school, of cattle a herd, of wolves a pack, and of people a crowd or mob. In behavioural ecology, 群れ dynamics (collective movement, murmuration, shoaling) are a major research area. The word can carry a slightly negative nuance when applied to people, suggesting mindless conformity.

Examples

1. 数百羽の椋鳥が夕暮れの空に群れを成し、複雑な模様を描きながら飛んでいた。 Several hundred starlings formed a flock in the twilight sky, tracing complex patterns as they flew.
2. 野生のシカが群れで移動する場面は、秋の山中ではよく見られる光景だ。 The sight of wild deer moving together in a herd is a common scene in the mountains in autumn.
3. イワシの群れがキラキラと光を反射しながら、水中を一体となって泳いでいた。 A school of sardines swam as one through the water, glittering as they reflected the light.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, wildlife, biology

Tone: descriptive

Origin & History

Native Japanese word (yamato kotoba). The noun 群れ derives from the verb 群れる, itself related to the classical root expressing gathering or clustering. The kanji 群 (gun) represents a flock of animals gathered in one place.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal