Translation guide
A herbivore is an animal that eats plants. In Japanese, the most common and general term is 草食動物 (そうしょくどうぶつ). There is also a specific term for herbivorous dinosaurs and a metaphorical use describing a certain type of man.
The speaker wants to refer to an animal that eats plants, in a biological or everyday context.
This is the standard, neutral term for 'herbivore'. It is used in biology, zoology, and everyday conversation.
Rabbits are herbivores.
Herbivores eat only plants.
This is a shorter form, often used as a prefix or in compounds. It can mean 'herbivorous' or 'plant-eating'. It is not a standalone noun for 'herbivore' as commonly as 草食動物, but it appears in terms like 草食系 (herbivore-type men).
herbivorous dinosaur
The speaker specifically wants to talk about plant-eating dinosaurs.
This is the specific term for a herbivorous dinosaur. It is commonly used in museums, books, and documentaries.
Triceratops is a herbivorous dinosaur.
The speaker is referring to a man who is gentle, unassertive, and not actively pursuing romantic or sexual relationships, often in the context of Japanese social commentary.
Literally 'herbivore-type man'. This is a well-known sociological term in Japan describing men who are not aggressive in romance, prefer platonic relationships, and are often seen as gentle or shy. It is not a direct translation of 'herbivore' but a cultural metaphor.
Short for 草食系男子. Can be used as a noun or adjective to describe the type.
草食動物 refers strictly to animals. Using it to describe a person would be confusing or humorous. Use 草食系男子 for the sociological concept.
The opposite of 草食動物 is 肉食動物 (にくしょくどうぶつ, carnivore). For the metaphorical men, the opposite is 肉食系男子 (にくしょくけいだんし, carnivore-type man).
It is said that there are many herbivore-type men among young men these days.
He's totally a herbivore type, isn't he?