小鳥

• Reading: ことり
• Romaji: kotori
• Kanji breakdown: 小 (shou/ko) — small, little; 鳥 (chou/tori) — bird
• Pronunciation: /ko.to.ɾi/

Meaning

A small bird; a songbird. Refers to little birds such as sparrows, finches, or canaries.

Compound of 小 (ko, small) and 鳥 (tori, bird). Used affectionately to describe small, often cute birds. Common in contexts about nature, pets, and children's stories. Sparrows, Java sparrows, and canaries are typical examples.

Examples

1. 朝、小鳥の声で目が覚めた。 I woke up to the sound of little birds in the morning.
2. 庭に小鳥が来ています。 A small bird is visiting the garden.
3. 小鳥を飼いたいと思っています。 I'm thinking about keeping a little bird.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, pets, morning routines

Tone: warm

Origin & History

Compound of 小 (ko, small) and 鳥 (tori, bird). Both are among the oldest Japanese words. 鳥 is a pictograph of a bird with outstretched wings.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal