How to say "lion" in Japanese

• ライオンCommon
  nounThe everyday word for the animal itself, Panthera leo — the large cat seen at zoos and in nature programs. This is what you say whenever you simply mean 'a lion'.
  ライオンは百獣ひゃくじゅうの王おうです。↗

  The lion is the king of beasts.
• 獅子ししCommon
  nounAlso 'lion', but the Sino-Japanese word: it carries a literary or traditional flavor and is the form met in cultural contexts and set phrases rather than in casual talk about the animal.
  眠ねむれる獅子ししは起おこすな。↗

  Let sleeping dogs lie.

Use 「ライオン」 for the animal itself in everyday contexts; 獅子 is the Sino-Japanese word, with a literary or traditional flavor, found in cultural contexts and set phrases rather than casual talk about lions.

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

• ライオンlion (Panthera leo)
• 獅子ししlion
• 獅子王ししおうlion (king of beasts)
• 名物男めいぶつおとこpopular figure