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ニホンリス (にほんりす) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ニホンリス

に

ほ

ん

り

す

Meanings

1

noun

Japanese squirrel

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to Sciurus lis, a squirrel species native to Japan.

ニホンリスは本ほん州しゅうと四し国こくに生せい息そくしている。
The Japanese squirrel inhabits Honshu and Shikoku.
公こう園えんでニホンリスを見みつけた。
I spotted a Japanese squirrel in the park.

Written forms

ニホンリス
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
日本にほん栗鼠りす
Kanji spelling is uncommon; 栗鼠 is a rare ateji for 'squirrel'.

Kanji

日day, sun, Japan
本

book, present, main

栗chestnut

鼠rat, mouse, dark gray

Similar words

リス
Generic term for squirrel; ニホンリス specifies the Japanese species.
タイワンリス
Formosan squirrel, another species sometimes seen in Japan, but not native.

Etymology

Compound of 日本 (Nihon, 'Japan') and 栗鼠 (risu, 'squirrel'). The kanji 栗鼠 is ateji; the word is usually written in katakana as ニホンリス.