独楽鼠こまねずみ

こ

ま

ね

ず

み

Meanings

Japanese dancing mouse

A domesticated variety of house mouse known for its distinctive spinning or circling behavior, often kept as a pet or used in research. The name literally means 'spinning-top mouse'.

独楽鼠こまねずみは、くるくると回まわる動うごきが特とく徴ちょう的てきな小ちいさなネズミです。
The Japanese dancing mouse is a small mouse characterized by its spinning movements.
昔むかし、独楽鼠こまねずみは見み世せ物ものとして人にん気きがあった。
In the past, Japanese dancing mice were popular as a sideshow attraction.

Kanji

独single, alone, spontaneously
楽music, comfort, ease
鼠rat, mouse, dark gray
高tall, high, expensive
麗lovely, beautiful, graceful

Related words

ハツカネズミ
ハツカネズミ is the general term for the house mouse (Mus musculus), while 独楽鼠 specifically refers to the dancing variety with the characteristic spinning behavior.

Built from

こま+ねずみ

Written forms

独楽鼠こまねずみ
Standard kanji spelling for the Japanese dancing mouse.
コマネズミUsage67%
こまねずみUsage25%
Kana spelling; useful when the kanji are obscure or for learners.
高麗鼠こまねずみUsage8%
Alternate kanji spelling using 高麗 (Goryeo/Korea), reflecting historical association; less common than 独楽鼠.

Etymology

Compound of 独楽 (こま, spinning top) and 鼠 (ねずみ, mouse), referring to the mouse's spinning behavior. The alternate spelling 高麗鼠 uses 高麗 (Goryeo, an ancient Korean kingdom), possibly reflecting a historical belief about its origin, but the exact derivation is uncertain.