How do you say "rhino" in Japanese?

サイ

sai

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "rhino" is サイ (sai).

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Pronunciation

サイ is written using katakana. Romanised as sai, it sounds roughly like "sah-ee" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Sai is a short katakana term for rhinoceros. The abbreviated form is common in everyday Japanese for this large African animal.

Example sentence

サイは昼間よく眠ります。

Sai wa hiruma yoku nemurimasu.

A rhino often sleeps during the day.

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How to remember サイ

Brief katakana 'sai' stands for the powerful rhino.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more zoo words.

Questions about サイ

How do you pronounce サイ?

サイ is romanised as sai. Say it roughly like "sah-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is サイ formal or casual?

サイ 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 サイ written in Japanese?

サイ is written using katakana. Sai is a short katakana term for rhinoceros.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Rhino" in other languages

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