餌(えさ)

えさ
noun
feed, bait, food (for animals)
1. feed, food (for animals)
Food given to animals.
犬(いぬ)に餌(えさ)をやる。
To feed the dog.
鳥(とり)が餌(えさ)を探(さが)している。
The bird is looking for food.
猫(ねこ)に餌(えさ)をあげる。
To give food to the cat.
金魚(きんぎょ)の餌(えさ)を買(か)った。
I bought goldfish food.
野生(やせい)動物(どうぶつ)に餌(えさ)を与(あた)えないで。
Don't feed the wild animals.
餌(えさ)を食(た)べない。
It won't eat its food.
2. bait
Food used to attract and catch animals or fish.
魚(さかな)釣(つ)りの餌(えさ)を買(か)った。
I bought bait for fishing.
針(はり)に餌(えさ)をつけた。
I put bait on the hook.
ミミズを餌(えさ)にして釣(つ)る。
To fish using worms as bait.
罠(わな)に餌(えさ)を仕掛(しか)けた。
I set bait in the trap.
甘(あま)い言葉(ことば)を餌(えさ)にする。
To use sweet words as bait.
3. prey
An animal hunted by another for food.
小魚(こざかな)が大魚(たいぎょ)の餌(えさ)になる。
Small fish become prey for big fish.
詐欺師(さぎし)の餌食(えじき)になった。
I fell prey to a fraudster.
捕食者(ほしょくしゃ)の餌(えさ)にならないように。
So as not to become prey for predators.
冗談(じょうだん)の餌食(えじき)にされた。
I was made the butt of jokes.
弱(よわ)い動物(どうぶつ)は大(おお)きな動物(どうぶつ)の餌食(えじき)になりやすい。
Weak animals easily become prey for larger animals.

餌(えさ) covers three related meanings: food given to animals, bait used for fishing or trapping, and figuratively, prey or a lure.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 餌(えさ)をやる/あげる: to feed (an animal)
  • 餌(えさ)を食(た)べる: to eat food (said of animals)
  • 餌(えさ)にする: to use as bait
  • 餌食(えじき)になる: to fall prey to (often figurative)

FIGURATIVE USE:
In sense 2-3, 餌(えさ) is used metaphorically for anything that lures or tempts. 甘(あま)い言葉(ことば)を餌(えさ)にする means to use sweet words as bait. 餌食(えじき) (prey/victim) is a related compound often used for people who fall victim to scams or bullying.

WRITING:
Can be written as 餌(えさ) or えさ. The kanji form is more common in formal writing.

core
Added 2026.1.9 21:30 · Revised 2026.3.26 15:22
01500/01886_esa