虎（とら、tora）
- tiger

The word 虎 虎 (tora) in Japanese means "tiger." It refers to the large, striped cat known for its strength, power, and often, its fierce reputation. The word directly translates to the animal itself.

⚫︎トラはとても強い動物です。 Translation: Tigers are very strong animals. ⚫︎動物園で虎を見た。 Translation: I saw a tiger at the zoo. ⚫︎虎の絵を描きました。 Translation: I drew a picture of a tiger.

This word is used to describe the animal 虎. It can be used in general conversations about animals, zoos, wildlife, or in any context where the tiger is the subject. You'll typically use it when talking about the animal itself, its characteristics, or its behavior.

⚫︎ The word 虎 is primarily written using the kanji 虎. ⚫︎ The hiragana reading is とら (tora). ⚫︎ Katakana トラ (tora) is used to represent the word when writing foreign words, loanwords or for emphasis. ⚫︎ There are no variations in okurigana.

There are no direct synonyms for 虎 that refer to the same animal. However, one might use descriptive phrases to refer to it.

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

あの男の人はまるで虎のように強い。 ・Translation: That man is as strong as a tiger. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 虎 figuratively to describe someone's strength.

虎は百獣の王と言われている。 ・Translation: The tiger is said to be the king of the beasts. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the tiger's reputation for being powerful.

The kanji 虎 originated in China and was adopted into the Japanese language. The etymology traces back to the ancient Chinese character for "tiger," reflecting the historical and cultural significance of the animal in East Asia.