野 良 犬(のらいぬ)

のらいぬ

noun

stray dog

1. stray dog

A dog without an owner that wanders freely. Can also be used figuratively to describe a person who belongs to no group or organization.

野良犬(のらいぬ)に近(ちか)づくな。

Don't go near stray dogs.

公園(こうえん)で野良犬(のらいぬ)を見(み)かけて保健所(ほけんじょ)に連絡(れんらく)した。

I spotted a stray dog in the park and contacted the public health center.

昔(むかし)は野良犬(のらいぬ)がたくさんいたが、今(いま)ではほとんど見(み)かけなくなった。

There used to be many stray dogs, but nowadays you hardly ever see them.

Usage

野良(のら) means "stray" or "feral" and combines with animal names: 野良犬(のらいぬ) (stray dog), 野良猫(のらねこ) (stray cat). 野良(のら) alone originally means "field" or "open land" and also appears in 野良仕事(のらしごと) (farm work).

Common collocations

野良犬(のらいぬ)を保護(ほご)する (to rescue a stray dog)
野良犬(のらいぬ)に噛(か)まれる (to be bitten by a stray dog)

Cultural note

Stray dogs have become rare in modern Japan due to strict animal control laws and active efforts by 保健所(ほけんじょ) (public health centers). In contrast, 野良猫(のらねこ) (stray cats) are still commonly seen.

Related Words

Related: 犬(いぬ) (dog)

Related: 野良猫(のらねこ) (stray cat)

Compare: 迷(まよ)い犬(いぬ) (lost dog)

Related: 捨(す)て犬(いぬ) (abandoned dog)

general

Added 2026.3.1 19:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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