鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)

ちょうじゅう
noun
birds and beasts; wildlife
formalwrittennatureanimal-general
1. birds and beasts; wildlife; wild birds and mammals
A collective term for wild birds and mammals. Used in literary, legal, and environmental contexts to refer to wildlife in general.
この森(もり)には多(おお)くの鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)が生息(せいそく)している。
Many birds and beasts inhabit this forest.
鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)保護法(ほごほう)によって狩猟(しゅりょう)が規制(きせい)されている。
Hunting is regulated by the Wildlife Protection Act.
鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)による農作物(のうさくぶつ)への被害(ひがい)が深刻(しんこく)な問題(もんだい)になっており、各地(かくち)で対策(たいさく)が進(すす)められている。
Damage to crops by wildlife has become a serious problem, and countermeasures are being implemented across the country.

Composed of 鳥(ちょう) (birds) and 獣(じゅう) (beasts). A literary and formal term that appears frequently in legal texts, environmental reports, and classical literature.

Cultural note

The famous 鳥獣戯画(ちょうじゅうぎが) (Scrolls of Frolicking Animals) is a set of picture scrolls from the 12th-13th centuries depicting animals behaving like humans. It is considered a precursor to modern manga and is a national treasure.

Common collocations

  • 鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)保護(ほご): wildlife protection
  • 鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)被害(ひがい): wildlife damage
  • 鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)戯画(ぎが): Scrolls of Frolicking Animals (national treasure)
  • 鳥獣(ちょうじゅう)保護区(ほごく): wildlife sanctuary
  • 有害(ゆうがい)鳥獣(ちょうじゅう): harmful wildlife (pest species)

Similar words

  • 野生動物(やせいどうぶつ): wild animals — more modern and conversational, includes all wild animals; 鳥獣(ちょうじゅう) is more formal and specifically means birds and mammals
  • 動物(どうぶつ): animals — general term covering all animals, not limited to wild ones
  • 獣(けもの): beast; animal — a single wild animal, often with a nuance of ferocity

Related Words

Compare: 野生動物(やせいどうぶつ) (wild animals)
Compare: 動物(どうぶつ) (animals)
general
Added 2026.4.20 19:29 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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