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ニホンカワウソ (にほんかわうそ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ニホンカワウソ

に

ほ

ん

か

わ

う

そ

Meanings

1

Japanese river otter

usually written using kana alone

Refers to the subspecies Lutra lutra whiteleyi, formerly found in Japan. Now considered extinct.

ニホンカワウソは、かつて日本にほんの川かわに生せい息そくしてい

た

。

The Japanese river otter once inhabited rivers in Japan.

ニホンカワウソは絶ぜつ滅めつしたと考かんがえられている。

The Japanese river otter is thought to be extinct.

Kanji

日day, sun, Japan
本book, present, main
川stream, river, river or three-stroke river radical (no. 47)
獺otter

Related words

カワウソ
General term for river otter; ニホンカワウソ specifies the Japanese subspecies.

Written forms

ニホンカワウソ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this animal name.
日本にほん川獺かわうそ
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.

Etymology

Compound of 日本 (Nihon, 'Japan') and 川獺 (kawauso, 'river otter').