1.
wolf
A wild canine known for living and hunting in packs. The Japanese wolf is now extinct, but wolves remain important in Japanese folklore.
狼 refers to wolves.
Common expressions:
- 狼少年 (the boy who cried wolf)
- 一匹狼 (lone wolf - someone who acts alone)
- 狼狽する (to be flustered - uses the kanji for wolf)
- 送り狼 (a man who escorts a woman home with ulterior motives)
Cultural note:
The 日本狼 (Japanese wolf) went extinct around 1905. In Japanese folklore, wolves were revered as messengers of mountain gods (大口真神) and protected crops from wild boars and deer. Several shrines still worship wolves, such as 三峯神社 in Saitama.