蜥蜴(とかげ)

とかげ
noun
lizard
animal-general
1. lizard
A reptile with a long body, four legs, and a tail. Many species can shed their tails when threatened.
蜥蜴(とかげ)が石垣(いしがき)の隙間(すきま)から顔(かお)を出(だ)した。
A lizard peeked out from a gap in the stone wall.
蜥蜴(とかげ)は敵(てき)に襲(おそ)われると尻尾(しっぽ)を切(き)って逃(に)げる。
Lizards can drop their tails to escape when attacked by enemies.
子供(こども)が庭(にわ)で蜥蜴(とかげ)を見(み)つけて大喜(おおよろこ)びした。
The child found a lizard in the garden and was overjoyed.

蜥蜴(とかげ) refers to lizards in general. It is counted with 匹(ひき).

Writing

Often written in katakana as トカゲ.

Common expressions

  • 蜥蜴(とかげ)の尻尾(しっぽ)切(き)り (cutting off a lizard's tail): used figuratively in business and political contexts for scapegoating, or letting a lower-ranking person take the blame
  • 蜥蜴(とかげ)の尻尾(しっぽ) (lizard's tail): something expendable

Related Words

Compare: イモリ (newt)
general
Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.9.20 13:30
04000/04305_tokage