動物（どうぶつ、doubutsu）
- animal

The Japanese word 動物 (どうぶつ, *doubutsu*) means "animal" or "animals". It refers to any living creature that is not a plant or a human. This includes a wide range of species, from mammals and birds to insects and aquatic creatures. The term covers both wild and domestic animals.

⚫︎ 動物園 (どうぶつえん) Translation: Zoo ⚫︎ あの動物 (あのどうぶつ) Translation: That animal ⚫︎ かわいい動物 (かわいいどうぶつ) Translation: Cute animals

You can use 動物 in various contexts when talking about animals. For instance, when describing different types of creatures, discussing animal behavior, or visiting a zoo. The word is generally used in a formal to neutral context.

動物 is written using the kanji 動物 and read as どうぶつ. * 動 (*dou*) means "move" or "motion". * 物 (*butsu*) means "thing" or "object". The word is always written using the kanji. There is no other way to write this word. The okurigana is standard.

While 動物 is a broad term, here are some related words: ⚫︎ 獣 (*kemono*) - beast, usually referring to wild animals (often mammals). ⚫︎ 生物 (*seibutsu*) - living things; can be a broader term including plants. ⚫︎ アニマル (*animaru*) - animal (loanword from English); used in more casual contexts.

⚫︎ 植物 (*shokubutsu*) - plant ⚫︎ 人間 (*ningen*) - human

公園にたくさんの動物がいます。 ・Translation: There are many animals in the park. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 動物 to describe the general presence of animals in a park.

私は動物が好きです。 ・Translation: I like animals. ・Explanation: This sentence shows a personal preference for 動物.

The word 動物 is a compound word formed from the kanji 動 (motion) and 物 (thing). Therefore, it implies "moving things", referring to creatures that can move of their own accord.