カラス

からす
noun
crow, raven
1. crow, raven
A large black bird known for its intelligence, commonly seen in both urban and rural areas of Japan.
カラスが()いている。
A crow is cawing.
カラスがゴミを()らした。
Crows got into the garbage.
都会(とかい)のカラスは(あたま)がいいと()われている。
Urban crows are said to be intelligent.

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

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

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • カラスが()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()()(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.