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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "bear" in Japanese?
熊
kuma
In Japanese, "bear" is 熊 (kuma).
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Pronunciation
熊 is written using kanji. Romanised as kuma, it sounds roughly like "koo-mah" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
熊 is a moderately common kanji for bear. It appears in many Japanese place names and cultural references, reflecting the animal's significance in Japanese geography and folklore.
Example sentence
あの熊はとても可愛いです。
Ano Kuma wa totemo kawaii desu.
That bear is very cute.
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How to remember 熊
The kanji 熊 features the animal radical, marking it as a living creature.
Related words
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 熊
How do you pronounce 熊?
熊 is romanised as kuma. Say it roughly like "koo-mah" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 熊 formal or casual?
熊 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.
How is 熊 written in Japanese?
熊 is written using kanji. 熊 is a moderately common kanji for bear.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Bear" in other languages
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