蝙 蝠(こうもり)

こうもり

noun

bat

1. bat

A nocturnal flying mammal with webbed wings. Bats use echolocation to navigate and hunt insects.

蝙蝠(こうもり)は夜(よる)に飛(と)ぶ。

Bats fly at night.

蝙蝠(こうもり)は超音波(ちょうおんぱ)を使(つか)って飛(と)ぶ。

Bats fly using ultrasonic waves.

洞窟(どうくつ)の中(なか)に蝙蝠(こうもり)がたくさんいた。

There were many bats inside the cave.

夕暮(ゆうぐ)れになると蝙蝠(こうもり)が飛(と)び始(はじ)める。

Bats start flying at dusk.

蝙蝠(こうもり)は鳥(とり)ではなく、空(そら)を飛(と)ぶことができる唯一(ゆいいつ)の哺乳類(ほにゅうるい)だ。

Bats are not birds, but the only mammals that can fly.

蝙蝠(こうもり) refers to bats.

Alternative writing: コウモリ (katakana)

Common expressions:

蝙蝠傘(こうもりがさ) (Western-style umbrella - from its bat-wing shape when open)
蝙蝠(こうもり)外交(がいこう) (bat diplomacy - switching sides opportunistically)

Counter: 匹(ひき)

Figurative usage:
蝙蝠(こうもり) is used to describe someone who switches sides depending on the situation, neither fully committing to one group nor another. This comes from Aesop's fable where the bat claims to be a bird or a mouse depending on circumstances.

Note:
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. In Japan, the common house bat (アブラコウモリ) is often seen flying at dusk in urban areas.

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Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.5.31 22:06

04000/04354_koumori