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
1
A Japanese raccoon dog, a wild canine species native to East Asia.
"A tanuki darted across the forest path at dusk."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishEither the real raccoon dog animal, or the trickster spirit from Japanese folklore based on it.
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Word forms
- Plural
- tanukis
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A _____ darted across the forest path at dusk.
Etymology
From Japanese tanuki, meaning "raccoon dog".
Rhymes for tanuki
See all rhymes for tanuki →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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