河馬（かば、kaba）
- hippopotamus

The Japanese word 河馬 河馬 (かば, *kaba*) refers to a hippopotamus. ⚫︎ It is a large, herbivorous mammal native to Africa, known for its massive size, semi-aquatic lifestyle, and thick skin. ⚫︎ The word 河馬 河馬 specifically denotes the animal itself.

⚫︎ 動物園で《河馬を見ました。》 Translation: I saw a hippopotamus at the zoo. ⚫︎ 《河馬は水中で生活することが多いです。》 Translation: Hippos often live in the water. ⚫︎ アフリカには多くの《河馬が生息しています。》 Translation: Many hippos live in Africa.

⚫︎ 河馬 河馬 is used in the same way as the English word "hippopotamus". ⚫︎ You would use it when talking about hippos, whether describing them, discussing their behavior, or mentioning them in a story. ⚫︎ It’s a straightforward noun, directly referring to the animal.

⚫︎ The word is most commonly written with the kanji 河馬 河馬. ⚫︎ The hiragana reading is かば. ⚫︎ It is not typically written in katakana except for emphasis or when referring to the name of the animal in a formal or scientific context. ⚫︎ There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎ There are no direct synonyms for the word 河馬 河馬. ⚫︎ It is a specific animal.

⚫︎ There are no direct antonyms for the word 河馬 河馬, as it is a specific animal.

夏の動物園で、子供たちは大きな《河馬の姿に驚いていました。》 ・Translation: At the zoo in summer, the children were surprised by the sight of the large hippopotamus. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a common situation: children being impressed by the size of the 河馬 at the zoo.

《河馬は、陸上でも水中でも危険な動物です。》 ・Translation: Hippos are dangerous animals both on land and in the water. ・Explanation: This sentence provides a safety warning about 河馬.

⚫︎ The kanji 河 (kawa) means "river" or "stream," and 馬 (uma) means "horse." ⚫︎ Therefore, 河馬 literally translates to "river horse." ⚫︎ This name likely originates from the animal's large size and its semi-aquatic habits, resembling a horse in the water.