生き物|いきものikimono[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. nounliving thing; living creature; animal; life
   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.

• Synonym生物せいぶつNeutralCovers all living things; the usual term in academic and formal contexts, and short for biology. 「生き物」 is more colloquial and often means the animals around you.
• Synonym動物どうぶつNeutralMeans animals only — no plants, fungi, etc. 「生き物」 is broader, a general word for anything alive, and carries a warmer, more affectionate feel.
• SynonymアニマルNeutralLoanword with the same sense as 「動物」; mostly seen in compounds like 「アニマル柄」 and 「アニマルセラピー」. Unlike 「生き物」 it does not cover plants and the like.
• Related生類しょうるいWrittenOld-fashioned written word for all living things, as in the edict 「生類憐みの令」; in modern usage say 「生き物」.
• Antonym無生物むせいぶつWrittenThe opposite of 「生き物」 in terms of whether something has life: lifeless things such as stones. An academic-leaning, written term.
• Antonym死物しぶつWrittenA written word opposed to 「生き物」 as lifeless versus living; it can also mean something useless.

For everyday talk about living things, use 「生き物」. In academic or formal writing, or for biology, say 「生物」; for animals only, 「動物」; 「アニマル」 turns up mostly in compounds; 「生類」 is old written style. The opposites are 「無生物」 and 「死物」.

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

1. 生命せいめいをもつもの。動物どうぶつや植物しょくぶつ、菌類きんるい、細菌さいきんなどの総称そうしょう。狭義きょうぎには身近みじかな動物どうぶつを指さす。
2. 複雑ふくざつに変動へんどうして予測よそくが難むずかしく、それでいて有機的ゆうきてきな様よう。またそのようなもの。