白しろ熊くま

し

ろ

く

ま

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

polar bear

usually written using kana alone

The common Japanese word for polar bear. Often written in kana, but kanji and katakana are also used.

ホッキョクグマ
ホッキョクグマ is the more formal/scientific term for the polar bear, while 白熊 is the everyday word most Japanese speakers use.

頭とうN3
For large animals (horses, cattle, large dogs) and animals counted as livestock or specimens.
匹ひきN3
Polar bears are typically counted with 匹, though 頭 can also be used when treating them as large animals.

白しろ熊くま
Kanji spelling; literally 'white bear'.
しろくまUsage50%
Kana spelling; usually written in kana.
シロクマUsage39%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling; often used in zoological or commercial contexts.
白しろくまUsage11%
Mixed kanji-kana spelling; less common than full kanji or full kana.

Compound of 白 (しろ, 'white') and 熊 (くま, 'bear'). The reading しろくま is a straightforward kun'yomi combination.