一つがい (ひとつがい) Japanese meaning | KotomoraMeanings
1
noun
pair; couple; brace
usually written using kana alone
Refers to a pair of animals, especially birds or other creatures that form natural couples. Not used for inanimate objects or abstract pairs.
一
つ
が
い
が
いる
。
This zoo has a pair of cranes.
Similar words
- ペア
ペア is a general loanword for any pair (people, objects, etc.), while 一つがい is specifically for animal couples.
- 夫婦
夫婦 refers to a married human couple; 一つがい is for animals.
Etymology
Compound of 一 (ひと, 'one') and つがい ('pair', 'couple'). つがい itself is the continuative form of 番う (つがう, 'to pair, to mate').
