害獣(がいじゅう)

がいじゅう
noun
harmful animal; pest animal
writtenspokennatureanimal-general
1. harmful animal; pest animal; nuisance wildlife
An animal that causes damage to crops, livestock, property, or human safety. Used in agricultural, environmental, and municipal contexts to refer to wildlife that creates problems for human activities.
害獣(がいじゅう)被害(ひがい)が深刻(しんこく)だ。
Damage from pest animals is serious.
鹿(しか)や猪(いのしし)は農作物(のうさくもつ)を荒(あ)らす害獣(がいじゅう)とされている。
Deer and wild boar are regarded as pest animals that ravage crops.
地方自治体(ちほうじちたい)は害獣(がいじゅう)駆除(くじょ)のために狩猟(しゅりょう)免許(めんきょ)を持(も)つ人材(じんざい)を募集(ぼしゅう)している。
Local governments are recruiting people with hunting licenses for pest animal control.

Composed of 害(がい) (harm, damage) and 獣(じゅう) (beast, animal). A term commonly encountered in news and local government communications, especially in rural Japan where wildlife encroachment on farmland is a growing issue due to depopulation.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 害虫(がいちゅう): harmful insect, pest insect — the insect equivalent; much more commonly encountered in daily life
  • 害鳥(がいちょう): harmful bird, pest bird — birds that damage crops or property
  • 野生動物(やせいどうぶつ): wild animal — neutral term without the negative connotation of causing harm
  • 有害鳥獣(ゆうがいちょうじゅう): harmful birds and animals — the formal administrative term used in laws and regulations

Related Words

Compare: 害虫(がいちゅう) (harmful insect, pest insect)
Compare: 害鳥(がいちょう) (harmful bird, pest bird)
Compare: 野生動物(やせいどうぶつ) (wild animal)
Compare: 猛獣(もうじゅう) (wild beast)
general
Added 2026.4.20 20:18 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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