狸(たぬき)

たぬき
noun
raccoon dog; tanuki
1. raccoon dog; tanuki
A canid native to East Asia with a distinctive masked face. Not related to raccoons despite the English name. Tanuki are significant in Japanese folklore as shapeshifters.
狸(たぬき)が道(みち)を横切(よこぎ)って行(い)った。
A tanuki crossed the road.
信楽焼(しがらきやき)の狸(たぬき)の置物(おきもの)は有名(ゆうめい)だ。
Shigaraki-ware tanuki figurines are famous.
日本(にほん)の昔話(むかしばなし)には狸(たぬき)が人(ひと)を化(ば)かす話(はなし)が多(おお)い。
In Japanese folktales, there are many stories of tanuki tricking people.

狸(たぬき) refers to the Japanese raccoon dog, a species unique to East Asia.

Common expressions:

  • 狸(たぬき)そば (soba with tenkasu/tempura crumbs)
  • 狸寝入(たぬきねい)り (pretending to be asleep)
  • 狸(たぬき)親父(おやじ) (sly old man)
  • 狐(きつね)と狸(たぬき)の化(ば)かし合(あ)い (battle of wits between sly people)
  • 取(と)らぬ狸(たぬき)の皮算用(かわざんよう) (don't count your chickens before they hatch)

Counter: 匹(ひき)

Cultural note:
The ceramic 狸(たぬき) statues with large bellies, straw hats, and sake bottles seen outside restaurants are from 信楽(しがらき) in Shiga Prefecture. In folklore, tanuki can shapeshift and are often depicted as playful tricksters, in contrast to the more cunning 狐(きつね).

Related Words

Related: 狐(きつね) (fox)
general
Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.5.31 6:10
04000/04341_tanuki