野兎(のうさぎ)

のうさぎ
noun
hare; wild rabbit
1. hare; wild rabbit
A wild rabbit or hare, as opposed to a domesticated pet rabbit. In Japan, the Japanese hare (ニホンノウサギ) is native and changes its coat color with the seasons in snowy regions.
山(やま)で野兎(のうさぎ)を見(み)た。
I saw a wild rabbit in the mountains.
野兎(のうさぎ)が畑(はたけ)の野菜(やさい)を食(た)べてしまう。
Wild rabbits eat the vegetables in the field.
冬(ふゆ)になると、雪国(ゆきぐに)の野兎(のうさぎ)は白(しろ)い毛(け)に生(は)え変(か)わる。
In winter, wild hares in snowy regions grow white fur.

野兎(のうさぎ) combines 野(の) (wild, field) + 兎(うさぎ) (rabbit). Refers specifically to wild hares and rabbits, as distinct from domesticated pet rabbits.

COUNTER:
Rabbits are counted with 羽(わ) (the counter for birds), a convention dating back to when rabbit meat was classified as poultry for Buddhist dietary purposes.

CULTURAL NOTE:
The Japanese hare (ニホンノウサギ) is native throughout Japan. In snowy regions, it changes its coat from brown to white in winter for camouflage.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 野兎(のうさぎ)を見(み)かける (to spot a wild rabbit)
  • 野兎(のうさぎ)が走(はし)る (a wild rabbit runs)
  • 野兎(のうさぎ)狩(が)り (rabbit hunting)

RELATED WORDS:

  • うさぎ/兎(うさぎ): rabbit (general, including pets)
  • 飼(か)いうさぎ: pet/domesticated rabbit
  • ペットうさぎ: pet rabbit
general
Added 2026.3.22 9:46 · Revised 2026.4.7 11:46
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