1.
monkey hill; monkey enclosure
A rocky, hill-shaped enclosure at a zoo where monkeys (typically Japanese macaques) are kept and displayed. A familiar sight at Japanese zoos.
2.
hierarchy; pecking order (figurative)
Used figuratively to describe a small, hierarchical group where members jostle for dominance, likening human social dynamics to a monkey troop's power structure.
A compound of 猿 (monkey) and 山 (mountain/hill). The literal zoo meaning is the primary one, but the figurative use — comparing hierarchical human groups to a monkey troop's dominance hierarchy — is culturally significant.
Common collocations
- 猿山の大将: king of the monkey hill (big fish in a small pond)
- 猿山のボス: boss of the monkey hill
- 猿山で餌をやる: to feed monkeys at the monkey hill
Cultural note
The expression 猿山の大将 is a well-known put-down meaning someone who wields authority only within a tiny, insignificant domain — similar to "big fish in a small pond" in English.