野の狐ぎつね

noun

wild fox

Refers to a fox living in the wild, as opposed to a domesticated or tame fox. Neutral term.

• 山やまで野の狐ぎつねを見みかけた。

  I spotted a wild fox in the mountains.

noun

mythical fox capable of possessing people

Only with reading やこ

A fox spirit from Japanese folklore that can possess humans. The reading やこ is specifically associated with this supernatural sense.

• 昔むかし話ばなしには、野や狐こが人ひとに憑つく話はなしがよく出でてくる。

  In old tales, stories of a 野狐 (やこ) possessing people often appear.