Translation guide
The English word "bark" has two main meanings: the sound a dog makes, and the outer covering of a tree. This guide covers both, with natural Japanese expressions for each.
The dog is barking.
The most common onomatopoeia for a dog's bark, used by both children and adults. It can be used as a noun or adverbially with 鳴く (なく) 'to cry/make sound'.
The dog is barking.
The neighbor's dog's barking is noisy.
Onomatopoeia for a high-pitched, yapping bark, typical of small dogs.
The small dog is yapping.
The standard verb meaning 'to bark' or 'to howl'. It can be used for dogs and other animals.
The dog barks.
The dog barked in the middle of the night and I couldn't sleep.
A general verb for animal sounds. When used for dogs, it often pairs with onomatopoeia like ワンワン. By itself, it can mean 'to bark' but is less specific than 吠える.
The dog barks (woof woof).
Specifically refers to a howl or long-distance barking, like a wolf's howl.
I can hear the dog howling.
The outer covering of a tree trunk or branch.
The standard word for tree bark, used in both everyday and technical contexts.
The bark of this tree is rough.
To strip bark.
A more colloquial way to say 'tree bark', literally 'tree skin'. Common in everyday speech.
The bark is peeling off.
Loanword from English, used in some product names or contexts like gardening, but not common in everyday Japanese.
吠える (ほえる) specifically means 'to bark' or 'to howl', while 鳴く (なく) is a general verb for animal sounds (e.g., cats meow, birds chirp). When describing a dog barking, 吠える is more precise. 鳴く is often used with onomatopoeia like ワンワン鳴く.
The dog barks.
The dog goes 'woof woof'.
吠える is for animal sounds. For a person shouting or yelling, use 叫ぶ (さけぶ). Using 吠える for a person can imply they are ranting or barking like a dog, which is a metaphorical and somewhat negative usage.
He shouted in anger.
Bark chips (mulch)