捕食者(ほしょくしゃ)

ほしょくしゃ
noun
predator
1. predator
An animal that hunts and eats other animals for food.
ライオンは草原(そうげん)の捕食者(ほしょくしゃ)だ。
Lions are predators of the savanna.
捕食者(ほしょくしゃ)がいないと生態系(せいたいけい)のバランスが崩(くず)れる。
The ecosystem becomes unbalanced without predators.
この島(しま)には天敵(てんてき)となる捕食者(ほしょくしゃ)がいないため、鳥(とり)たちは人(ひと)を恐(おそ)れない。
Because there are no predators as natural enemies on this island, the birds are not afraid of humans.

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.

WORD FORMATION:
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 TERMS:

  • 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.

general
Added 2026.2.4 15:17 · Revised 2026.3.29 14:14
09500/09904_hoshokusha