noun

tanuki

tuh-NUU-kih

Tanuki (noun) means a Japanese raccoon dog, a wild canine species native to East Asia. Example: “A tanuki darted across the forest path at dusk.”

noun

A Japanese raccoon dog, a wild canine species native to East Asia.

"A tanuki darted across the forest path at dusk."

A shapeshifting creature from Japanese folklore, usually depicted as mischievous and jovial.

"The old folktale featured a tanuki who tricked travellers by transforming into everyday objects."

How to use tanuki

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the real raccoon dog animal, or the trickster spirit from Japanese folklore based on it.

Word forms

tanuki plural, tanukis plural

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A _____ darted across the forest path at dusk.

Etymology

From Japanese tanuki, meaning "raccoon dog".

Origin: Japanese

Rhymes for tanuki

Yuki suki Kuki kabuki Suzuki Kazuki Miyuki

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Frequently asked questions

What does “tanuki” mean?

The word “tanuki” means a Japanese raccoon dog, a wild canine species native to East Asia. In plain terms, either the real raccoon dog animal, or the trickster spirit from Japanese folklore based on it.

How do you pronounce “tanuki”?

“Tanuki” is pronounced tuh-NUU-kih (/tɑˈnuki/ in IPA).

How do you use “tanuki” in a sentence?

Here is “tanuki” used in a sentence: “A tanuki darted across the forest path at dusk.”

What part of speech is “tanuki”?

“Tanuki” is a noun.

Where does the word “tanuki” come from?

The word “tanuki” comes from Japanese. From Japanese tanuki, meaning "raccoon dog".

How many meanings does “tanuki” have?

“Tanuki” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Japanese raccoon dog, a wild canine species native to East Asia.

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Vocabulary lists that include tanuki:

Words with Japanese origins