How to say "animal" in Japanese

• 動物どうぶつJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe default word for 'animal', covering animals as a category of living beings, as in biology, pets, or wildlife. When you simply mean 'animal', this is the word you want.
  私はその動物どうぶつの名前なまえを知しっている。↗

  I know the name of this animal.
• 生き物いきものJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounMeans 'living thing' or 'living creature', emphasizing that something is alive rather than classifying it as an animal. Suitable when speaking of creatures with life in general, not just animals.
  王おうを得えた麒麟きりんもまた寿命じゅみょうを持もたない生き物いきものだが、この病やまいばかりは治癒ちゆの方法ほうほうがない。↗

  A qilin with a king too has no limit on its lifespan, but this illness alone admits of no remedy.
• 獣けものJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'beast' or 'brute', a wild or animalistic creature, often with a rough or savage nuance. It is not the neutral everyday word for 'animal'; use it when you really mean a beast.
  世界せかいで、鹿しかやムースやキジといった野性やせい獣じゅうを狩かることは違法いほうとする国くにが多おおい。↗

  In many parts of the world it is illegal to shoot wild game such as deer, moose or pheasant.
• アニマルCommon
  nounA loanword meaning 'animal', typically found in set phrases, names, or stylistic contexts. It is seldom the word you want for ordinary reference to animals; 動物 is the usual choice.
• 動物性どうぶつせいCommon
  no-adjectiveNot a noun for an animal itself but the sense 'animal (in nature)', describing something as being of animal origin or character, as opposed to plant-based or mineral. Use it attributively for such descriptions.

Use 動物 for animals in general, 「生き物」 for living creatures, 獣 for beasts or brutes, 「アニマル」 as a loanword in set phrases, and 動物性 only for the adjective sense 'animal in nature'.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 動物どうぶつanimal
• 生き物いきものliving thing
• 獣けものbeast
• アニマルanimal
• 動物性どうぶつせいanimal (in nature)
• 動物的どうぶつてきanimal
• 禽獣きんじゅうbirds and beasts
• ちくしょうbeast
• 四つ足よつあし(four-legged) animal