noun
Père David's deer; milu; elaphure
A rare deer species native to China, known for its unusual appearance combining features of several animals. The Japanese name シフゾウ literally means 'four not resembling', reflecting the idea that it looks like a mix of different creatures.
シフゾウは中国原産の珍しい鹿です。
The Père David's deer is a rare deer native to China.
動物園で初めてシフゾウを見ました。
I saw a Père David's deer for the first time at the zoo.
The Japanese name シフゾウ (shifuzō) is a direct borrowing from Chinese 四不像 (sìbùxiàng), meaning 'four not resembling', referring to the deer's composite appearance. The katakana spelling reflects its status as a loanword and is the standard written form in modern Japanese.