sika deer; Japanese deer; spotted deer
Refers to the species Cervus nippon, native to East Asia and common in Japan. In everyday contexts, simply シカ is often used.
There are many sika deer in Nara Park.
The sika deer is a native species of Japan.
Katakana spelling is common for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.
Compound of 日本 (Nihon, 'Japan') and 鹿 (shika, 'deer'). The reading じか is a rendaku form of しか.