How to say "rabbit" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe common everyday word for a rabbit (and also a hare). Use this in nearly all contexts, from talking about pets to describing wild animals.
- nounA katakana loanword meaning rabbit. It is less common than うさぎ and appears mostly in borrowed or stylistic uses; うさぎ is usually the word you want.
- 占子しめこnounA rare way of writing 'rabbit' that learners will seldom encounter or need. For ordinary reference to the animal, うさぎ is the natural choice instead.
For the animal 'rabbit', 「うさぎ」 is the everyday word; 「ラビット」 is a less common loanword; 占子 is a rare, marginal variant you will seldom need.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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