カラス

Crows are ubiquitous in Japan and often considered pests in urban areas due to their habit of scattering garbage.

Writing

Can be written as 烏(からす) or 鴉(からす) in kanji, but カラス in katakana is most common.

Common collocations

• カラスが鳴(な)く (a crow caws)
• カラスの行水(ぎょうずい) (a quick bath, lit. "crow's bath")
• カラスの濡(ぬ)れ羽(ば)色(いろ) (glossy black, like wet crow feathers)

Cultural note

In Japanese folklore, the three-legged crow 八咫烏(やたがらす) (Yatagarasu) is a divine creature associated with the sun goddess Amaterasu.