1.
lion
A large wild cat known as the king of beasts. In Japanese, often used in cultural/traditional contexts.
2.
lion (in traditional art/dance)
The lion figure used in traditional Japanese performing arts like 獅子舞.
獅子 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 (lion dance) - performed at New Year's for good luck
- 狛犬 (guardian lion-dogs) - stone statues at shrines
Common expressions
The character 獅 specifically refers to lions, distinct from other large cats.
Counter: 頭