哺乳類(ほにゅうるい)

ほにゅうるい
noun
mammal
1. mammal
Warm-blooded vertebrate animals that have hair or fur and nurse their young with milk. The class Mammalia in biological classification.
人間(にんげん)は哺乳類(ほにゅうるい)です。
Humans are mammals.
鯨(くじら)は魚(さかな)ではなく哺乳類(ほにゅうるい)です。
Whales are mammals, not fish.
哺乳類(ほにゅうるい)は子供(こども)に乳(ちち)を与(あた)えます。
Mammals nurse their young with milk.

哺乳類(ほにゅうるい) is the scientific classification term for mammals. The kanji break down as 哺乳(ほにゅう) (nursing/lactation) + 類(るい) (class/category).

RELATED CLASSIFICATION TERMS:

  • 爬虫類(はちゅうるい): reptiles
  • 両生類(りょうせいるい): amphibians
  • 鳥類(ちょうるい): birds
  • 魚類(ぎょるい): fish
  • 昆虫(こんちゅう): insects

COMMON EXAMPLES:

  • 犬(いぬ)、猫(ねこ)、熊(くま)、象(ぞう)、イルカ、鯨(くじら)

NOTE:
A common topic in science classes: 鯨(くじら)は魚(さかな)ではなく哺乳類(ほにゅうるい)だ (whales are mammals, not fish). The term is used in academic and educational contexts.

Related Words

Related: 爬虫類(はちゅうるい) (reptiles)
Related: 両生類(りょうせいるい) (amphibians)
Related: 魚類(ぎょるい) (fish)
Related: 鳥類(ちょうるい) (birds)
Related: 昆虫(こんちゅう) (insects)
general
Added 2026.1.14 22:31 · Revised 2026.4.10 21:45
04500/04920_honyuurui