獅子(しし)

しし
noun
lion
1. lion
A large wild cat known as the king of beasts. In Japanese, often used in cultural/traditional contexts.
獅子(しし)は「百獣(ひゃくじゅう)の王(おう)」と呼(よ)ばれています。
The lion is called "the king of beasts."
獅子(しし)は強(つよ)さの象徴(しょうちょう)とされている。
The lion is considered a symbol of strength.
彼(かれ)は獅子(しし)奮迅(ふんじん)の活躍(かつやく)を見(み)せた。
He showed a furious burst of activity.
獅子(しし)奮迅(ふんじん) is a four-character idiom meaning to fight with fierce energy
2. lion (in traditional art/dance)
The lion figure used in traditional Japanese performing arts like 獅子舞(ししまい).
お正月(しょうがつ)に獅子舞(ししまい)を見(み)ました。
I watched a lion dance at New Year's.
神社(じんじゃ)の入口(いりぐち)に獅子(しし)の像(ぞう)があります。
There are lion statues at the shrine entrance.
獅子舞(ししまい)に頭(あたま)を噛(か)まれると縁起(えんぎ)がいいと言(い)われている。
It is said to be good luck to have your head bitten by a lion dancer.

獅子(しし) is used in traditional/literary contexts. ライオン (loanword) is more common in everyday speech for the actual animal.

Cultural significance:

  • 獅子舞(ししまい) (lion dance) - performed at New Year's for good luck
  • 狛犬(こまいぬ) (guardian lion-dogs) - stone statues at shrines

Common expressions:

  • 獅子(しし)奮迅(ふんじん) (fighting with furious energy)
  • 獅子(しし)の子落(こお)とし (tough love - throwing a lion cub off a cliff)

The character 獅(し) specifically refers to lions, distinct from other large cats.

Counter: 頭(とう)

general
Added 2026.1.14 22:31 · Revised 2026.3.6 15:46
04500/04944_shishi