山やま烏がらす

Meanings

1

crow in the mountains

General term for crows found in mountainous areas; may be used poetically or in everyday speech.

山やま烏がらすが鳴なきながら飛とんでいった。
A mountain crow flew away cawing.

2

jungle crow; large-billed crow

Specifically refers to Corvus macrorhynchos, also known as ハシブトガラス. Common in Japan.

See also: ハシブトガラス

山やま烏がらすはハシブトガラスの別べつ名めいとして使つかわれることがある。
山烏 is sometimes used as another name for the jungle crow (ハシブトガラス).

3

Refers to Corvus frugilegus, a species of crow. Less commonly encountered in Japan; often called ミヤマガラス.

See also: ミヤマガラス

山やま烏がらすという名なはミヤマガラスを指さすこともある。
The name 山烏 can also refer to the rook (ミヤマガラス).

4

dark-skinned person

archaicderogatory

Archaic derogatory term; not used in modern Japanese. Historical usage only.

古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、山やま烏がらすが肌はだの黒くろい人ひとを指さす蔑べっ称しょうとして使つかわれた例れいがある。
In old texts, there are examples of 山烏 being used as a derogatory term for dark-skinned people.