ロバ (ろば, roba) Japanese meaning: donkey | Kotomoraロバを飼う
to keep/raise a donkey
They keep a donkey on their farm.
For large animals (horses, cattle, large dogs) and animals counted as livestock or specimens.
Donkeys are generally counted with 匹, though 頭 is also used when counting them as livestock.
Written forms
ロバUsage58%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
驢馬Usage23%
Kanji form is rare and mostly literary or historical.
ろばUsage20%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Etymology
A Sino-Japanese word from Chinese 驢馬, literally “donkey” or “ass.”
