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.
奈良公園にはたくさんのニホンジカがいる。
There are many sika deer in Nara Park.
ニホンジカは日本の在来種です。
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.