Translation guide
Describes animals or objects with four legs. In Japanese, this is typically expressed with the prefix 四つ足 (yotsuashi) or the phrase 四本足の (yonhon ashi no).
To describe an animal or creature that walks on four legs.
To describe an inanimate object that has four legs, such as a table or chair.
Same phrase as above, but applied to objects. The counter 本 (hon) is used for long, cylindrical objects like legs.
四本足のテーブルを買った。
I bought a four-legged table.
四つ足 (yotsuashi) is a noun referring to four-legged animals, while 四本足 (yonhon ashi) is an adjective phrase meaning 'four-legged' and can be used for both animals and objects. Use 四つ足 when talking about animals as a category, and 四本足の when modifying a noun directly.
Dogs are four-legged animals.
Phrase meaning 'four-legged', literally 'of four legs'. Used as an adjective before a noun.
四本足のロボットが開発された。
A four-legged robot was developed.
Technical or formal term for 'quadruped' or 'four legs'. Less common in everyday speech.
四足歩行の研究が進んでいる。
Research on quadrupedal locomotion is advancing.
Descriptive phrase meaning 'has four legs'. More conversational.
この椅子は脚が四本ある。
This chair has four legs.