How to say "hare" in Japanese

• うさぎJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for the animal, covering both 'rabbit' and 'hare'; English speakers should usually choose this. It is normally written in kana rather than with the kanji 兎.
  私はウサギの世話せわをしなければならない。↗

  I must look after the rabbits.
• 野うさぎのうさぎ
  nounSpecifically means the hare, especially the Japanese hare (Lepus brachyurus), as opposed to a rabbit. Use it when you need to distinguish a hare from an ordinary rabbit, though it is less common than うさぎ.
  彼かれは、３月がつの野ウサギのうさぎのように狂くるっているよ。↗

  He is as mad as a March hare.
• 野兎やと
  nounMeans a wild rabbit or hare, written with kanji. It is a less common way to refer to the animal, and in most contexts うさぎ is the word you actually want.

For the animal, 「うさぎ」 is the everyday word covering both rabbit and hare; 「野うさぎ」 specifies the wild hare, while 野兎 is the less common written variant for a wild rabbit or hare.

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

• うさぎrabbit
• 野うさぎのうさぎhare (esp. the Japanese hare, Lepus brachyurus)
• 野兎やとwild rabbit