猟師(りょうし)

Combines 猟(りょう) (hunting) and 師(し) (master/professional), indicating someone who hunts as a profession or calling. The word frequently appears in Japanese folk tales and stories about mountain village life.

Common collocations

• 猟師(りょうし)の小屋(こや): hunter's hut
• 猟師(りょうし)になる: become a hunter
• 猟師(りょうし)をする: work as a hunter
• 山(やま)の猟師(りょうし): mountain hunter

Cultural note

In Japanese folk tales (昔話(むかしばなし)), the 猟師(りょうし) is a common character type, often depicted as brave and knowledgeable about the mountains. In modern Japan, the number of hunters has declined significantly, and 猟師(りょうし) now sometimes refers to people involved in 害獣(がいじゅう)駆除(くじょ) (pest animal control) to manage wildlife like deer and boar that damage crops.

Similar words

• ハンター: hunter — the English loanword, used more casually and in modern/sport hunting contexts
• 漁師(りょうし): fisherman — a homophone with the same reading but written with 漁(りょう) (fishing) instead of 猟(りょう) (hunting)