Translation guide
A small rodent commonly found in fields and rural areas. In Japanese, the term can refer to specific species or be used more generally.
field mouse (general)
To refer to a small mouse-like rodent living in fields, often as a general term.
The most common and general term for a field mouse. Literally 'field mouse'.
A field mouse was found in the field.
Specifically a mouse found in cultivated fields or farms.
Field mice are damaging the crops.
To refer to the specific species native to Japan, often in scientific or precise contexts.
To refer to a vole, which is similar but stockier with a shorter tail, often called a field mouse in English.
Vole, literally 'field mouse' but refers to the vole species. Note: this is a different animal from the typical mouse.
Voles have short tails, unlike field mice.
野ネズミ is a general term for any mouse living in fields. ハタネズミ specifically refers to voles, which are different from mice. アカネズミ is a specific species of field mouse native to Japan. Use 野ネズミ for everyday conversation, and the others for precision.
ヒメネズミはアカネズミより小さい。
The small Japanese field mouse is smaller than the Japanese field mouse.