Animals in Japanese: 10 animal names you won’t forget

A picture mnemonic for each one

Animal names are among the first words you learn in Japanese, and they’re easy to turn into picture mnemonics. If you’ve never used mnemonics to remember vocabulary, the examples below show how it works. If you get stuck making your own, this post has some ideas.

Read through the list today, then test yourself tomorrow: how many of these animals can you name in Japanese?

I’ve assumed English is your first language, so the sound-alikes are based on English words. Each card has the image, the target and the definition. In Nemasis, you write your own cards, so you can use kana, kanji, romaji, or all three.

1. Octopus in Japanese: tako (タコ)

This is an easy one. The only tough choice is whether your octopus should hold eight tacos or just one. Mine settled on two.

Nemasis flashcard for octopus in Japanese: an octopus underwater holding a taco in each of two tentacles, labelled タコ tako

2. Cat in Japanese: neko (猫)

A cat with a long neck and a necktie should help you remember that neko is cat.

Nemasis flashcard for cat in Japanese: a cartoon cat with a very long neck wearing a necktie, labelled 猫 neko

3. Rabbit in Japanese: usagi (ウサギ)

Usagi may sound like “soggy” or “saggy” to you. I chose soggy. A rain-drenched bunny looking so sorry for itself: you soggy rabbit!

Nemasis flashcard for rabbit in Japanese: a soaking wet rabbit sitting in the rain, labelled ウサギ usagi

4. Snake in Japanese: hebi (蛇)

If you say it fast enough, hebi can sound like “heavy”. That’s enough of a hook for your brain to remember how to say snake in Japanese.

Nemasis flashcard for snake in Japanese: a snake coiled on a weighing scale that reads heavy, labelled 蛇 hebi

5. Pig in Japanese: buta (豚)

Buta is close enough to “boots”, and a cute little pig in bright yellow rain boots is an unforgettable image.

Nemasis flashcard for pig in Japanese: a pink pig wearing yellow rain boots, labelled 豚 buta

6. Mosquito in Japanese: ka (蚊)

Ka sounds like “car”. A tiny mosquito on a tiny car is a good image to help you remember it.

Nemasis flashcard for mosquito in Japanese: a mosquito standing on a small blue toy car, labelled 蚊 ka

7. Pigeon in Japanese: hato (ハト)

Hato sounds like “hat-oh”, and he looks very fancy in his top hat!

Nemasis flashcard for pigeon in Japanese: a pigeon wearing a black top hat, labelled ハト hato

8. Duck in Japanese: ahiru (アヒル)

Ahiru may sound like “a hero” to you. A duck in a superhero cape may help you remember it. I’m not sure whose day she’s saving, though.

Nemasis flashcard for duck in Japanese: a duckling in a blue superhero cape and mask, labelled アヒル ahiru

9. Cow in Japanese: ushi (牛)

Ushi might remind you of sushi. A cow at a sushi restaurant is just silly enough to stick.

Nemasis flashcard for cow in Japanese: a cow at a sushi counter with a plate of sushi, labelled 牛 ushi

10. Elephant in Japanese: zō (ゾウ)

Zō sounds like “zoo”. An elephant tiptoeing out of the zoo should be enough of a reminder.

Nemasis flashcard for elephant in Japanese: a cartoon elephant walking out through the zoo gates, labelled ゾウ zō