Tanuki is the Japanese word for ‘raccoon dog’, explained

What does “tanuki” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “tanuki” to mean ‘raccoon dog’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese movies, video games, novels, manga, anime, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain this word in detail based on its kanji character. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners understand “tanuki” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meaning of “tanuki”
• Tanuki in kanji
  • Example #1: how to say “raccoon dog” in Japanese
  • Example #2: another usage of “tanuki”
• Summary

Definition and meaning of “tanuki”

Let me start with the definition and meaning of “tanuki”.

• tanuki – 狸 (たぬき) : a noun meaning ‘raccoon dog’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.

Native speakers use this noun to refer to raccoon dogs in Japanese. It’s also worth mentioning here that they often use its hiragana or even katakana expression instead of the kanji character.

The definition and meaning are simple and clear, I think. To understand this noun more clearly, however, let me explain its kanji character in detail.

Tanuki in kanji

The kanji character of “tanuki” consists of the following two parts:

• 犭 : a kanji radical for animals.
• 里 : a kanji character used to mean ‘village’, ‘countryside’, or such in Japanese.

These two kanji parts tell us that “tanuki” literally means ‘village animals’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not in line with the actual meaning. The kanji character, however, represents well the lives of raccoon dogs. Actually, we can often find them around villages in Japan.

When we meet new kanji characters, we should check their parts in detail to understand their meanings clearly and deeply. In many cases, kanji parts tell us a lot about the meanings of the characters they form. Actually, here, we could get the better understanding of “tanuki” through the detailed check above.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “tanuki” together with its kanji character. Then, let me explain how to use it through the example sentences below.

Example #1: how to say “raccoon dog” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kinou – 昨日 (きのう) : a noun meaning ‘yesterday’ in Japanese. This can also work as an adverb almost anywhere in a sentence. In the example, this works as an adverb to say “yesterday” in Japanese.
• watashi – 私 (わたし) : a pronoun meaning ‘I’ in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “watashi” to make the subject in the sentence.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “tanuki” to make the object in the sentence.
• mi – 見 (み) : one conjugation of the verb, “miru“, which means ‘to see’ in Japanese. In the example, it has been conjugated for the better connection with its following word.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form. In the example, this is used after “mi” to make its past tense form, “mi ta”.

This is a typical usage of “tanuki”. In this example, it works as the object in the sentence. When we want to mean a ‘raccoon dog’ in Japanese, this noun is always a very good option.

Example #2: another usage of “tanuki”

Below are the new words used in the example.

• to – と : a parallel particle joining two words or phrases to make a parallel expression. This is often translated into English as “and”. In the example, this joins “tanuki” and “kitsune” to make the parallel expression in the sentence.
• kitsune – 狐 (きつね) : a noun meaning ‘fox’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.
• no – の : a case particle joining two nouns or noun equivalent words. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this joins “tanuki to kitsune” and “tatakai”. The formed phrase literally means a ‘fight between raccoon dogs and foxes’ in Japanese. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this case particle is similar to those of some English prepositions.
• tatakai – 戦い (たたかい) : a noun meaning ‘fight’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural.

This is another typical usage of “tanuki”. In Japan, interestingly, “tanuki” is often considered as the counter part of “kitsune”. Both were widely believed to be shape shifters which tricked humans. For this reason, they often appear together in Japanese movies, video games, novels, manga, anime, and the like even today.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meaning of “tanuki” in detail based on its kanji character. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• tanuki – 狸 (たぬき) : a noun meaning ‘raccoon dog’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. These two kanji parts literally mean ‘village animals’ in Japanese. This literal interpretation is not in line with the actual meaning. This kanji character, however, represents well the lives of raccoon dogs. Actually, we can often find them around villages in Japan. Interestingly, “tanuki” is often considered as the counter part of “kitsune”. Both were widely believed to be shape shifters which tricked humans. For this reason, they often appear together in Japanese movies, video games, novels, manga, anime, and the like even today.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.