アヒル

ア

ヒ

ル

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

noun

domestic duck

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to the domesticated duck, as opposed to wild ducks (鴨, かも).

公こう園えんの池いけにアヒルがたくさんいる。
There are many ducks in the park pond.
アヒルの卵たまごは鶏にわとりの卵たまごより大おおきい。
Duck eggs are larger than chicken eggs.

See all 16 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈場ば所しょ〉でアヒルを飼かうto keep/raise ducks at a place
農のう家かの庭にわでアヒルを飼かっている。
They keep ducks in the farmhouse yard.
〈場ば所しょ〉でアヒルが泳およぐfor ducks to swim somewhere
池いけでアヒルが泳およいでいる。
Ducks are swimming in the pond.

Kanji

家house, home, family
鴨wild duck, easy mark
鶩domestic duck

Related words

鴨かも
鴨 refers to wild ducks in general, while アヒル specifically means the domesticated duck.

Don't confuse with

鴨かも
鴨 refers to wild ducks (and the duck family in general), while アヒル refers specifically to the domesticated duck raised for meat or eggs.

Counted with

羽わN3
counter for birds; counter for rabbits

Written forms

アヒルUsage77%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard and most common; the word is usually written in kana.
あひるUsage15%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
家鴨あひるUsage7%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; not commonly used.
鶩あひるUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Very rare kanji form; practically never used.

Etymology

One common explanation derives あひる from 足広, “broad-footed,” through the intermediate form あひろ, referring to the duck’s broad webbed feet. Other origins have also been proposed.