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Japanese vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "wasp" in Japanese?
スズメバチ
suzumebachi
In Japanese, "wasp" is スズメバチ (suzumebachi).
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Pronunciation
Suzumebachi is soo-zoo-meh-bah-chee, five syllables, longer than most insect names, with even pacing.
Writing and usage
スズメバチ is written using katakana. It's a noun, and this word is also taught inside the Noun Town language learning game, where it appears in interactive lessons alongside hundreds of other everyday words.
Example sentence
ピクニックの近くでスズメバチが怒りっぽく羽音を立てていた。
pikunikku no chikaku de suzumebachi ga ikari ppoku uon wo tate teita.
A wasp buzzed angrily near the picnic.
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How to remember スズメバチ
A wasp so fierce its name needs five buzzing beats, soo-zoo-meh-bah-chee, to fit its sting.
Related words
- firefly ホタル hotaru
- ladybug てんとう虫 tentou mushi
- grasshopper バッタ batta
- caterpillar イモムシ imomushi
- termite シロアリ shiroari
- moth 蛾 ga
- newt イモリ imori
- salamander サンショウウオ sanshouuo
- gecko ヤモリ yamori
Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.
Questions about スズメバチ
How do you pronounce スズメバチ?
Suzumebachi is soo-zoo-meh-bah-chee, five syllables, longer than most insect names, with even pacing.
Is スズメバチ formal or casual?
スズメバチ 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 スズメバチ written in Japanese?
スズメバチ is written using katakana. Romanised, it reads as suzumebachi.
Where can I practice Japanese words for free?
You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.
"Wasp" in other languages
Curated by Jack Ratcliffe
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