麒麟(きりん)

きりん
noun
giraffe
1. giraffe
A tall African mammal with a very long neck and legs, and distinctive spotted coat.
麒麟(きりん)は世界(せかい)で一番(いちばん)背(せ)の高(たか)い動物(どうぶつ)です。
The giraffe is the tallest animal in the world.
子供(こども)たちは動物園(どうぶつえん)で麒麟(きりん)に餌(えさ)をやりました。
The children fed the giraffes at the zoo.
麒麟(きりん)の首(くび)は約(やく)2メートルあります。
A giraffe's neck is about 2 meters long.
2. qilin (mythical creature)
A legendary creature in East Asian mythology, often depicted with dragon-like features. Sometimes translated as "Chinese unicorn."
麒麟(きりん)は中国(ちゅうごく)の伝説(でんせつ)に登場(とうじょう)する動物(どうぶつ)だ。
The qilin is a creature that appears in Chinese legend.
麒麟(きりん)は平和(へいわ)の象徴(しょうちょう)とされている。
The qilin is considered a symbol of peace.
麒麟(きりん)ビールのラベルには伝説(でんせつ)の麒麟(きりん)が描(えが)かれている。
The mythical qilin is depicted on the Kirin Beer label.

麒麟(きりん) has two meanings:

1. The animal (giraffe) - usually written in katakana (キリン) in modern usage
2. The mythical creature (麒麟(きりん)) - a benevolent beast in Chinese/Japanese mythology

The giraffe was named 麒麟(きりん) in Japanese because early travelers thought it resembled the mythical creature.

キリン is also a famous Japanese ビール brand, using the mythical 麒麟(きりん) as its logo.

Counter: 頭(とう)

general
Added 2026.1.14 22:31 · Revised 2026.6.4 1:09
04500/04947_kirin