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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "swan" in Japanese?
白鳥
hakuchō
In Japanese, "swan" is 白鳥 (hakuchō).
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Pronunciation
白鳥 is written using kanji. Romanised as hakuchō, it sounds roughly like "hah-koo-choh" to an English ear.
Writing and usage
白 (white) combines with 鳥 (bird) to form this kanji compound, creating a native Japanese term for the elegant white waterfowl.
Example sentence
動物園で白鳥を見ました。
Doubutsuen de Hakuchō wo mimashita.
I saw a swan at the zoo.
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How to remember 白鳥
White (白) + bird (鳥) = the graceful white bird of lakes and rivers.
Related words
- peacock 孔雀 kujaku
- penguin ペンギン pengin
- orangutan オランウータン oranūtan
- raccoon アライグマ araiguma
- elephant ゾウ zō
- giraffe キリン kirin
- red panda レッサーパンダ ressāpanda
- lion ライオン raion
- chimp チンパンジー chinpanjī
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about 白鳥
How do you pronounce 白鳥?
白鳥 is romanised as hakuchō. Say it roughly like "hah-koo-choh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.
Is 白鳥 formal or casual?
白鳥 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 白鳥 written in Japanese?
白鳥 is written using kanji. 白 (white) combines with 鳥 (bird) to form this kanji compound, creating a native Japanese term for the elegant white waterfowl..
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
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"Swan" in other languages
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