猿（さる、saru）
- monkey

The Japanese word 猿 (さる, saru) means "monkey" or "ape". It refers to primates, excluding humans. The kanji 猿 depicts a monkey, often used in Japanese contexts to symbolize various characteristics or appear in cultural references. It is a common word with a straightforward meaning.

⚫︎その 猿はとても面白いです。 Translation: That monkey is very interesting. ⚫︎ 動物園でたくさんの 猿を見ました。 Translation: I saw many monkeys at the zoo. ⚫︎ 彼は 猿 のように木に登るのが得意だ。 Translation: He is good at climbing trees like a monkey.

This word is used to describe monkeys and apes in various situations. It can be used in everyday conversation, in academic discussions about animals, or in more figurative ways, such as describing someone's agility or playful behavior. It is a very common word, not particularly formal or informal, and can be used in almost any context where monkeys are relevant.

⚫︎ The word is typically written as 猿 in kanji. ⚫︎ The hiragana reading is さる. ⚫︎ There are no common variations in the okurigana. ⚫︎ It is also possible to write it in katakana, サル, but this is less common except in specific contexts, such as when referring to monkey-related products or as a name.

There are no direct synonyms for the general meaning of "monkey" or "ape" in Japanese, as 猿 is the standard term.

There is no direct antonym for 猿 itself, as it refers to a specific animal.

この 猿 はバナナが大好きです。 ・Translation: This monkey loves bananas. ・Explanation: This sentence simply describes the monkey's preference for bananas.

山には野生の 猿 が生息しています。 ・Translation: Wild monkeys live in the mountains. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the habitat of wild monkeys.

The kanji 猿 is a pictograph, representing a monkey. The exact etymological origin of the word さる is not fully known, but it is believed to be an ancient Japanese word.