動物

• Reading: どうぶつ
• Romaji: doubutsu
• Kanji breakdown: 動 (dou/ugo) — move, motion; 物 (butsu/mono) — thing, object
• Pronunciation: /doː.bɯ.t͡sɯ/

Meaning

Animal. A general term for all creatures in the animal kingdom.

A noun referring to animals in general. The compound 動物園 (doubutsuen) means zoo and is one of the first compound words many learners encounter. Japanese children often visit 動物園 on school trips. The word covers all animals from insects to mammals.

Examples

1. 動物園でパンダを見ました。 I saw a panda at the zoo.
2. 一番好きな動物は何ですか。 What is your favorite animal?
3. この森にはたくさんの動物がいます。 There are many animals in this forest.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, zoo, science

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of 動 (move) and 物 (thing), literally meaning moving thing. This straightforward combination distinguishes animals from plants (植物, shokubutsu, literally planted things).

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal