捕食者(ほしょくしゃ)

捕食者(ほしょくしゃ) is a scientific/technical term for an animal that hunts others for food. It is commonly used in ecology, biology education, and nature documentaries.

Etymology

捕食(ほしょく) (predation, catching and eating) + 者(しゃ) (one who ~)

Common collocations

• 頂点(ちょうてん)捕食者(ほしょくしゃ): apex predator
• 捕食者(ほしょくしゃ)と被(ひ)捕食者(ほしょくしゃ): predator and prey
• 自然(しぜん)の捕食者(ほしょくしゃ): natural predator

Related words

• 被(ひ)捕食者(ほしょくしゃ): prey (technical)
• 天敵(てんてき): natural enemy (more common in everyday use)
• 食物連鎖(しょくもつれんさ): food chain
• 生態系(せいたいけい): ecosystem

Register

In casual speech, 天敵(てんてき) is more commonly used. 捕食者(ほしょくしゃ) sounds academic or documentary-like.