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A2 noun #4,000 mais comum 7 min de leitura

ねずみ

nezumi Top 4,000

Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas ねずみ em 30 segundos

Explicação ねずみ in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'nezumi' is taught as a basic animal vocabulary word. Students learn it alongside 'inu' (dog) and 'neko' (cat). The focus is on simple existence sentences like 'Nezumi ga imasu' (There is a mouse) and basic descriptions like 'Nezumi wa chiisai desu' (The mouse is small). Learners at this level should be able to recognize the word in hiragana and understand it refers to the animal often seen in cartoons or as a pest. There is no need to worry about complex kanji or specific species yet.

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At the A2 level, learners expand their use of 'nezumi' to include basic actions and counters. You should be able to say 'Nezumi o nihiki mimashita' (I saw two mice) using the correct counter '-hiki'. You also begin to learn verbs associated with the animal, such as 'hashiru' (run), 'taberu' (eat), and 'tsukamaeru' (catch). Understanding the distinction between 'iru' (animate existence) and 'aru' (inanimate) becomes crucial here. You might also encounter 'nezumi' in simple folk tales or children's stories used for reading practice.

At the B1 level, you will encounter 'nezumi' in more varied contexts, including common idioms and cultural references. You might learn about the 'Year of the Rat' (nezumi-doshi) and the mouse's role in the Japanese Zodiac. You'll also start to see the word used in compound nouns like 'nezumi-iro' (gray) and 'nezumi-yoke' (mouse repellent). In reading, you might encounter 'nezumi' in news articles about urban issues or environmental science. You should be comfortable using the word in complex sentences with relative clauses, such as 'Kinoo mita nezumi wa totemo ookikatta desu' (The mouse I saw yesterday was very big).

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At the B2 level, 'nezumi' appears in metaphorical and idiomatic expressions. You should understand the concept of 'nezumi-ko' (pyramid schemes) and why the word 'nezumi' is used there. You'll encounter more specific biological terms like 'hatsuka-nezumi' or 'dobu-nezumi' in literature or documentaries. Discussion about the duality of the mouse in Japanese culture (as both a pest and a messenger of God) becomes possible. You should also be able to distinguish between the loanword 'mausu' and the native 'nezumi' depending on the register (scientific vs. colloquial).

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At the C1 level, you explore the literary and historical nuances of 'nezumi'. This includes understanding its use in classical literature (like the 'Tale of Genji' or 'Soseki Natsume's works') where it might symbolize poverty or stealth. You study advanced idioms like 'kyuuso neko o kamu' (a cornered rat will bite the cat) and use them naturally in conversation to describe high-pressure situations. The kanji 鼠 and its radicals become part of your advanced writing repertoire. You can discuss the etymology of the word and its phonetic shifts throughout history.

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At the C2 level, 'nezumi' is understood in its most obscure and specialized forms. This includes archaic terms, rare biological classifications, and deep dives into regional dialects where the word might vary. You can analyze the socio-economic implications of 'nezumi-ko' in Japanese history or the symbolic evolution of the rat in Shinto rituals. You are capable of translating nuanced English 'rat/mouse' distinctions into Japanese with perfect cultural equivalence, choosing between 'nezumi', 'mausu', or literary alternatives like 'shuso' (rat) depending on the subtle tone of the text.

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Pratique Exemplos Notas e dicas

ねずみ em 30 segundos

Nezumi is the general Japanese term for both mice and rats, lacking the size distinction found in English.
It is grammatically treated as an animate noun, using the existence verb 'imasu' and the counter '-hiki'.
Culturally, it is the first animal of the Zodiac and a messenger of the god Daikokuten.
Commonly used in idioms like 'nezumi-ko' (pyramid scheme) and color terms like 'nezumi-iro' (gray).

The Japanese word ねずみ (鼠 / Nezumi) is a fundamental noun that primarily refers to a mouse or a rat. Unlike English, which distinguishes between the smaller 'mouse' and the larger 'rat' with two distinct words, Japanese often uses the single term nezumi to encompass the entire family of Muridae rodents. In a biological or specific context, qualifiers are added to clarify the size or species, but in everyday conversation, if you see a small furry rodent scurrying across the floor, you simply point and say, 'Nezumi!'

General Usage: Used for any rodent that looks like a mouse or rat. It is common in household contexts, nature documentaries, and folklore.
Zodiac Context: The mouse is the first animal in the Oriental Zodiac (Juunishi). People born in the 'Year of the Rat' are referred to as nezumi-doshi.
Computer Terminology: While 'mouse' as a peripheral is usually called mausu (マウス), the literal translation nezumi is sometimes used humorously or in older texts.

屋根裏でねずみが走る音が聞こえます。
(Yaneura de nezumi ga hashiru oto ga kikoemasu.)
I can hear the sound of a mouse running in the attic.

Historically, nezumi have a complex relationship with Japanese culture. On one hand, they were pests that destroyed grain stores; on the other, they are considered the messengers of Daikokuten, the god of wealth and agriculture. Because rats are prolific breeders, they symbolize fertility and a growing family. This duality makes the word appear in various settings, from warnings about hygiene to celebratory New Year's cards during the Year of the Rat.

あそこに可愛いねずみのキャラクターがいます。
(Asoko ni kawaii nezumi no kyarakutaa ga imasu.)
There is a cute mouse character over there.

Symbolism: Nezumi represents industriousness and cleverness. In the story of the Zodiac race, the rat won by riding on the ox's back, showing its wit.

In modern Japanese, you might also encounter the word in economic contexts, such as nezumi-ko (pyramid schemes), where the term refers to the way the scheme multiplies rapidly like breeding rodents. Understanding nezumi involves recognizing both its literal biological meaning and its deep-seated metaphorical roots in the Japanese language.

Using ねずみ in a sentence follows standard Japanese noun patterns. Since it is a living creature (animate), you use the verb iru (いる) to indicate existence, rather than aru (ある). For example, 'There is a mouse' is Nezumi ga imasu.

この古い家にはねずみがたくさん住んでいます。
(Kono furui ie ni wa nezumi ga takusan sunde imasu.)
Many mice live in this old house.

Grammatical Particle: GA (が): Used to identify the mouse as the subject of an action or existence. Ex: Nezumi ga naita (The mouse squeaked).
Grammatical Particle: O (を): Used when the mouse is the object of an action. Ex: Neko ga nezumi o tsukamaeta (The cat caught the mouse).

When describing the attributes of a mouse, you can use adjectives directly. Common adjectives associated with nezumi include chiisai (small), subayai (quick/agile), and kowai (scary—for those with musophobia). Because nezumi is a general term, if you want to be specific about a 'rat' found in sewers, you might say dobu-nezumi, or for a 'house mouse,' hatsuka-nezumi.

実験室で白いねずみを使います。
(Jikkenshitsu de shiroi nezumi o tsukaimasu.)
We use white mice in the laboratory.

In metaphorical usage, nezumi can describe a person's behavior. For instance, nezumi-mitai ni (like a mouse) might describe someone who is quiet, small, or perhaps acting sneakily. However, unlike English where 'rat' is a strong insult for a traitor, nezumi in Japanese is less commonly used as a direct personal insult for betrayal, though it still carries a nuance of being a 'pest' or 'insignificant.'

ねずみがチーズをかじっています。
(Nezumi ga chiizu o kajitte imasu.)
The mouse is gnawing on the cheese.

You will encounter ねずみ in a surprising variety of real-life situations in Japan. While cities like Tokyo are modern, they still grapple with urban wildlife, making nezumi a common topic in property management and sanitation. You'll see posters in subways or near restaurants warning about 'rodent control' (nezumi-kujo).

In Pop Culture: Mickey Mouse is universally known as 'Mikkii Mausu,' but children's books often use nezumi-kun to refer to cute mouse protagonists. The famous 'Guri and Gura' series features two mice.
In Folklore: The story 'Omusubi Kororin' (The Rolling Rice Ball) features a hole full of mice who sing and dance to thank an old man for his rice ball. This portrays mice as magical and grateful creatures.

子供の頃、ねずみの嫁入りの話を読みました。
(Kodomo no koro, nezumi no yomeiri no hanashi o yomimashita.)
When I was a child, I read the story of the Mouse's Wedding.

In the kitchen or restaurant industry, nezumi is a word of dread. If a health inspector mentions nezumi, it's a serious matter. Conversely, in the world of pets, hamsters are popular, but some people do keep fancy rats or mice, referring to them as petto no nezumi. You might also hear it in idioms like nezumi-iro (mouse color) to describe a specific shade of dark gray, which was a very fashionable 'chic' color during the Edo period when flashy colors were banned for commoners.

そのシャツのいろは、綺麗なねずみ色ですね。
(Sono shatsu no iro wa, kirei na nezumi-iro desu ne.)
The color of that shirt is a beautiful mouse-gray, isn't it?

One of the biggest hurdles for English speakers is the lack of distinction between 'mouse' and 'rat'. If you are trying to describe a giant sewer rat and you just say nezumi, a Japanese person might picture a small, cute house mouse. To avoid this, use dobu-nezumi (rat) for the large, dirty variety and hatsuka-nezumi (mouse) for the small variety.

Mistake: Using ARU instead of IRU: Incorrect: Nezumi ga arimasu. (Grammatically suggests the mouse is an inanimate object). Correct: Nezumi ga imasu.
Mistake: Confusing with Hamsters: While hamsters are rodents, they are always called hamusutaa. Calling a pet hamster a nezumi is technically correct biologically but socially weird.

× 庭にねずみがあります。
○ 庭にねずみがいます。
(Niwa ni nezumi ga imasu.)
There is a mouse in the garden.

Another mistake is the counter. Don't use -tsu or -nin. Small animals use -hiki. If you say nezumi ga hitori, you are implying the mouse is a person, which only works in fairy tales where the mouse is a character. Also, be careful with the word nezumi-ko. If you hear someone talking about a 'mouse group,' they are likely talking about a fraudulent pyramid scheme, not a club for rodent lovers!

大きなねずみ（ドブネズミ）を見てびっくりしました。
(Ookina nezumi (dobu-nezumi) o mite bikkuri shimashita.)
I was surprised to see a large rat.

While ねずみ is the go-to word, several related terms can provide more precision or different registers. Depending on whether you are in a lab, a pet shop, or reading a story, you might choose a different word.

マウス (Mausu): Used for computer mice and often for laboratory mice in scientific contexts. It sounds more modern and technical.
ラット (Ratto): Specifically refers to larger rats used in experiments. This is a loanword from English.
ドブネズミ (Dobu-nezumi): Literally 'ditch mouse.' This refers to the brown rat or Norway rat, often associated with sewers and filth.
ハツカネズミ (Hatsuka-nezumi): Literally '20-day mouse' (due to its short gestation period). This is the common house mouse.

パソコンのマウスが壊れました。
(Pasokon no mausu ga kowaremashita.)
My computer mouse broke.

Comparison Table:

Word	Nuance	Example
ねずみ	General/Common	家に出た！
マウス	Technical/IT	実験用マウス
ドブネズミ	Negative/Dirty	下水道にいる

How Formal Is It?

Curiosidade

In the Edo period, mice were so common that there was a book called 'Yousei Tama no Kakehashi' which taught people how to keep and breed 'fancy mice' with different patterns.

Guia de pronúncia

UK /ne.zu.mi/

US /ne.zu.mi/

Flat pitch accent (Heiban), meaning it starts low and stays high, or has no significant drop.

Rima com

Tsutsumi (Package) Kasumi (Mist) Kurumi (Walnut) Natsumi (Name) Izumi (Spring) Fushimi (Place name) Sashimi Tatami

Erros comuns

Pronouncing 'zu' as a heavy English 'zoo'.
Stress on the first syllable (NE-zumi) which sounds unnatural.
Making the 'i' at the end too long (nezumeee).

Nível de dificuldade

Leitura 2/5

Hiragana is easy; Kanji 鼠 is difficult but rarely required for beginners.

Escrita 3/5

Writing the kanji is a challenge, but hiragana is simple.

Expressão oral 1/5

Pronunciation is very straightforward for English speakers.

Audição 1/5

Distinct sound, easy to pick out in a sentence.

O que aprender depois

Pré-requisitos

ねこ (Cat) いぬ (Dog) ちいさい (Small) いる (To be)

Aprenda a seguir

はむすたー (Hamster) りす (Squirrel) どうぶつ (Animal) しっぽ (Tail)

Avançado

齧歯目 (Rodentia) 繁殖 (Reproduction) 駆除 (Extermination)

Gramática essencial

Animate Existence (iru)

ねずみがいます。

Animal Counter (-hiki)

ねずみが三匹います。

Adjective Noun Connection

白いねずみ。

Similes with 'no you ni'

ねずみのように速い。

Compound Nouns

ねずみ色 (Mouse + Color).

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Exemplos por nível

ねずみがいます。

There is a mouse.

Uses 'imasu' for a living thing.

ねずみは小さいです。

The mouse is small.

Basic adjective 'chiisai'.

これはねずみですか？

Is this a mouse?

Question form 'desu ka'.

ねずみはチーズが好きです。

Mice like cheese.

Particle 'ga' with 'suki'.

白いねずみです。

It is a white mouse.

Color adjective 'shiroi'.

ねずみが一匹います。

There is one mouse.

Counter 'ippiki' for small animals.

ねずみは速いです。

Mice are fast.

Adjective 'hayai'.

ねずみを見ました。

I saw a mouse.

Past tense 'mimashita'.

台所にねずみが出ました。

A mouse appeared in the kitchen.

Verb 'deru' used for appearing/coming out.

猫がねずみを追いかけています。

The cat is chasing the mouse.

Present continuous '-te iru'.

ねずみの穴を見つけました。

I found a mouse hole.

Possessive particle 'no'.

ねずみは夜に動きます。

Mice move at night.

Time particle 'ni'.

公園でねずみを二匹見ました。

I saw two mice in the park.

Counter 'nihiki'.

ねずみにパンをあげないでください。

Please don't give bread to the mice.

Negative request '-naide kudasai'.

このねずみはとても可愛いです。

This mouse is very cute.

Adverb 'totemo' for emphasis.

ねずみはどこにいますか？

Where is the mouse?

Interrogative 'doko'.

ねずみは十二支の最初の動物です。

The rat is the first animal of the Zodiac.

Noun 'juunishi' (Zodiac).

古い建物にはねずみが住み着きやすいです。

Mice tend to settle in old buildings.

Verb stem + 'yasui' (easy to/tend to).

ねずみ色の服を買いました。

I bought mouse-gray clothes.

Color compound 'nezumi-iro'.

ねずみが電線をかじって停電しました。

A mouse gnawed the wire and caused a power outage.

Conjunctive '-te' for cause and effect.

彼はねずみのように静かに歩きます。

He walks as quietly as a mouse.

Simile 'no you ni'.

ねずみ捕りを仕掛けましたが、一匹も捕まりません。

I set a mouse trap, but not even one was caught.

Negative emphasis 'ippiki mo... nai'.

ねずみは繁殖力が非常に強いです。

Mice have a very strong reproductive capacity.

Noun 'hanshokuryoku'.

屋根裏のねずみの足音がうるさくて眠れません。

The sound of mice footsteps in the attic is so loud I can't sleep.

Potential negative 'nemurenai'.

その投資話は、実はねずみ講だった。

That investment talk was actually a pyramid scheme.

Term 'nezumi-ko' for pyramid schemes.

窮鼠猫を噛むということわざを知っていますか？

Do you know the proverb 'A cornered rat bites the cat'?

Quotation particle 'to iu'.

ドブネズミは下水道などの不衛生な場所に生息しています。

Brown rats inhabit unsanitary places like sewers.

Formal verb 'seisoku suru' (inhabit).

ねずみ算式に借金が増えてしまった。

The debt increased exponentially (like mice breeding).

Expression 'nezumi-zan-shiki ni'.

大黒天の使いとして、ねずみは縁起が良いとされることもある。

As messengers of Daikokuten, mice are sometimes considered auspicious.

Passive 'sareru' (is considered).

この新薬は、マウスを用いた実験で効果が確認された。

The effectiveness of this new drug was confirmed in experiments using mice.

Particle 'o mochiita' (using).

ねずみ一匹通さない厳重な警備が行われている。

Heavy security is in place, not letting even a single mouse through.

Idiomatic use of 'nezumi ippiki toosanai'.

都会のねずみと田舎のねずみの寓話は有名です。

The fable of the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse is famous.

Noun 'guuwa' (fable).

彼は袋の鼠となり、もはや逃げ場はなかった。

He was like a rat in a bag (trapped), with no place left to run.

Idiom 'fukuro no nezumi' (trapped).

大山鳴動して鼠一匹という結果に終わった。

The mountain labored and brought forth a mouse (much ado about nothing).

Classical idiom 'taizan meidou shite nezumi ippiki'.

鼠色の空が広がり、今にも雨が降り出しそうだ。

A mouse-gray sky spread out, looking like it would rain at any moment.

Descriptive literary style.

鼠害によって歴史的な古文書が台無しにされた。

Historical documents were ruined by rodent damage.

Compound 'sogai' (rodent damage).

その政治家は、鼠が沈む船を去るように、党を離脱した。

That politician left the party like rats leaving a sinking ship.

Simile used for social commentary.

和尚さんは、少年が描いた鼠が動き出すのを見て驚いた。

The priest was surprised to see the mouse drawn by the boy come to life.

Reference to the 'Boy Who Drew Cats' legend.

鼠の嫁入りは、最も強い婿を探すという教訓を含んでいる。

The Mouse's Wedding contains a lesson about searching for the strongest groom.

Noun 'kyoukun' (lesson/moral).

最新の駆除技術により、ビル内の鼠を完全に一掃した。

With the latest extermination technology, the rodents in the building were completely wiped out.

Verb 'issou suru' (wipe out).

首鼠両端を持して、彼はどちらの陣営に付くべきか測りかねていた。

He was hesitating and looking both ways (like a rat), unable to decide which side to join.

Four-character idiom 'shuso ryoutan'.

鼠輩の徒が何を言おうと、私の決心は揺るがない。

No matter what those insignificant people (rats) say, my resolve will not waver.

Derogatory term 'shuhai' (insignificant people).

社内の鼠を炙り出すために、内部監査が実施された。

An internal audit was conducted to smoke out the 'rats' (spies/thieves) within the company.

Metaphorical use of 'aburidasu'.

その古刹には、左甚五郎作と伝えられる「眠り猫」と対をなす鼠の彫刻がある。

In that ancient temple, there is a mouse carving that pairs with the 'Sleeping Cat' attributed to Hidari Jingoro.

Cultural/Art history context.

鼠疫の蔓延は、中世ヨーロッパの人口動態を劇的に変容させた。

The spread of the plague (rat-borne disease) dramatically transformed the demographics of medieval Europe.

Academic term 'soeki' (plague/pestilence).

彼は鼠の如き執念深さで、失われた証拠を追い求めた。

With rat-like tenacity, he pursued the lost evidence.

Literary simile 'no gotoki'.

鼠小僧次郎吉は、義賊として江戸の庶民に愛された。

Nezumi Kozo Jirokichi was loved by the commoners of Edo as a chivalrous thief.

Historical figure reference.

微かな鼠の鳴き声が、静寂に包まれた書庫に響き渡った。

The faint squeak of a mouse echoed through the silence-shrouded library.

Evocative literary description.

Colocações comuns

ねずみを捕る

ねずみが出る

ねずみが鳴く

ねずみを駆除する

ねずみ色の空

ねずみ算式に増える

ねずみ捕りを仕掛ける

ねずみの穴

ねずみの嫁入り

袋のねずみ

Frases Comuns

ねずみ講

— A pyramid scheme. It refers to the rapid multiplication of members like breeding mice.

ねずみ講に騙されないで。

ねずみ色

— Dark gray. A classic color in Japanese aesthetics.

ねずみ色の着物。

ねずみ返し

— A structure on raised-floor granaries to prevent mice from climbing up.

高床式倉庫にはねずみ返しがある。

ねずみ捕り

— A mouse trap; also slang for a police speed trap.

あそこで警察がねずみ捕りをしている。

子年

— The Year of the Rat in the Zodiac.

私は子年生まれです。

火鼠

— A mythical fire-rat from Chinese/Japanese legends (appears in Kaguya-hime).

火鼠の皮衣を探す。

ねずみ花火

— A type of firework that spins around on the ground like a running mouse.

子供たちがねずみ花火で遊ぶ。

ねずみ浄土

— A folk tale about a mouse's paradise.

おじいさんはねずみ浄土へ行った。

ねずみ小僧

— A famous thief in Japanese history/fiction.

ねずみ小僧は金持ちから盗んだ。

ねずみ男

— A famous character from the manga GeGeGe no Kitaro.

ねずみ男は狡賢いキャラクターだ。

Frequentemente confundido com

ねずみ vs ハムスター

Hamsters have short tails and are pets. Nezumi have long tails.

ねずみ vs リス

Squirrels have bushy tails and live in trees. Nezumi live on the ground/in walls.

ねずみ vs モグラ

Moles (mogura) live underground and have no visible eyes. Nezumi are different.

Expressões idiomáticas

"窮鼠猫を噛む"

— A cornered rat will bite the cat. Even the weak will fight back when desperate.

あまり追い詰めると、窮鼠猫を噛むことになるぞ。

Literary

"袋の鼠"

— A rat in a bag. Being completely trapped with no escape.

逃げ道は塞いだ。もう袋の鼠だ。

Neutral

"大山鳴動して鼠一匹"

— The mountain labored and brought forth a mouse. Much fuss for a small result.

大騒ぎした割に、大山鳴動して鼠一匹だった。

Literary

"首鼠両端"

— Hesitating between two options, like a rat looking both ways from its hole.

首鼠両端を持して決断を下さない。

Archaic

"鼠が沈む船を去る"

— Rats leaving a sinking ship. People deserting a failing enterprise.

経営が悪化すると、鼠が沈む船を去るように社員が辞めた。

Neutral

"鼠の穴から堤も崩れる"

— A small mouse hole can cause a levee to collapse. Small mistakes lead to big disasters.

小さなミスを放置するな。鼠の穴から堤も崩れると言うだろう。

Proverb

"鼠に引かれる"

— To be taken away by mice. Used to describe a lonely or quiet house where someone might disappear.

一人でいると鼠に引かれるよ。

Colloquial

"頭の上の鼠を追う"

— To chase the mouse on one's own head. To take care of one's own business before helping others.

人の心配より、まず頭の上の鼠を追え。

Proverb

"鼠入らず"

— A place so tight or secure that even a mouse cannot enter.

鼠入らずの蔵。

Descriptive

"溝鼠のよう"

— Like a sewer rat. Used to describe someone looking dirty or pathetic.

雨に濡れて溝鼠のようになってしまった。

Informal

Fácil de confundir

ねずみ vs マウス

Both mean mouse.

'Mausu' is for computers or labs. 'Nezumi' is for the animal in general.

マウスを動かす (Move the computer mouse).

ねずみ vs ラット

Both refer to rodents.

'Ratto' is a loanword for large lab rats. 'Nezumi' is the native general term.

ラットの実験。

ねずみ vs 子 (Ne)

Both mean rat/mouse.

'Ne' is only used for the Zodiac sign. 'Nezumi' is used for the animal.

今年は子年 (This year is the Year of the Rat).

ねずみ vs ハリネズミ

Contains 'nezumi'.

It means 'Hedgehog' (needle mouse), which is not actually a mouse.

ハリネズミは刺がある。

ねずみ vs ビーバー

Both are rodents.

Beavers are 'biibaa' and much larger, living in water.

ビーバーがダムを作る。

Padrões de frases

[Place] ni nezumi ga imasu.

Heya ni nezumi ga imasu.

Nezumi wa [Adjective] desu.

Nezumi wa chiisai desu.

Nezumi o [Number]hiki mimashita.

Nezumi o nihiki mimashita.

Nezumi ga [Verb-te] imasu.

Nezumi ga hashitte imasu.

Nezumi mitai na [Noun]

Nezumi mitai na koe.

[Verb] nezumi

Cheese o taberu nezumi.

Nezumi-zan-shiki ni [Verb]

Nezumi-zan-shiki ni fueta.

Fukuro no nezumi da.

Mou nigerarenai. Fukuro no nezumi da.

Família de palavras

Substantivos

鼠 (Nezumi)

鼠色 (Nezumi-iro)

鼠算 (Nezumi-zan)

鼠捕り (Nezumi-tori)

Verbos

鼠が這う (Nezumi ga hau - mouse crawls)

Adjetivos

鼠色に近い (Nezumi-iro ni chikai - close to gray)

Relacionado

齧歯類 (Gesshirui - Rodents)

ハムスター (Hamusutaa)

リス (Risu - Squirrel)

モルモット (Morumotto - Guinea pig)

カピバラ (Kapibara)

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Como usar

frequency

Very High. It is a basic life word.

Erros comuns

Nezumi ga arimasu. → Nezumi ga imasu.
Nezumi is a living animal, so you must use 'imasu'.
Nezumi o hitori mimashita. → Nezumi o ippiki mimashita.
Use '-hiki' for animals, not '-nin' for people.
Using 'nezumi' for a computer mouse. → Mausu o tsukaimasu.
While technically 'mouse', the loanword 'mausu' is the standard term for IT.
Calling a hamster 'nezumi'. → Hamusutaa.
Though they are rodents, Japanese people always distinguish hamsters as 'hamusutaa'.
Pronouncing it NE-zumi (falling pitch). → Nezumi (flat pitch).
The pitch accent for nezumi is flat (type 0).

Dicas

Animate Existence

Always use 'imasu' with nezumi. 'Nezumi ga arimasu' is a common beginner mistake.

Zodiac Years

If someone is 'nezumi-doshi', they were born in 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, etc.

Specific Names

Learn 'dobu-nezumi' (rat) and 'hatsuka-nezumi' (mouse) to sound more like a native speaker.

Flat Tone

Practice saying 'ne-zu-mi' without changing the pitch. It's a 'Heiban' (flat) type word.

Radical Recognition

The kanji 鼠 is its own radical. Recognizing it helps with other rare rodent-related kanji.

Katakana Use

In science or pet stores, you'll often see it written in katakana as ネズミ.

Cornered Rat

Use 'Kyuuso neko o kamu' when talking about an underdog fighting back.

Ippiki vs Nihiki

Pay attention to the sound change: 1 is 'ippiki' (double p), but 2 is 'nihiki' (standard h).

City Life

In big cities like Tokyo, 'nezumi' is a common topic for apartment dwellers and restaurant owners.

Hedgehogs

Remember 'Hari-nezumi' (Needle-mouse) for hedgehog. It's a very cute and common word!

Memorize

Mnemônico

Imagine a **NE**t that catches a **ZU**oo-like **MI**ghty mouse. (NE-ZU-MI).

Associação visual

Picture a gray mouse (Nezumi) eating a 'Nezumi-iro' (gray) piece of cheese.

Word Web

Cheese Cat Gray Zodiac Hole Rat Squeak Trap

Desafio

Try to find the word 'ねずみ' on a Japanese zodiac calendar or a pest control sign.

Origem da palavra

The word 'nezumi' is ancient Japanese. The most popular theory is that it comes from 'nusumi' (stealing) and 'mi' (a suffix for creatures/beings), meaning 'the stealing creature.'

Significado original: A creature that sneaks into storehouses to steal grain.

Japonic / Old Japanese.

Contexto cultural

Avoid using 'nezumi' to describe people unless you are intentionally being rude or metaphorical about their size/stealth.

Westerners often differentiate 'rat' (bad/large) and 'mouse' (cute/small). In Japanese, you must use adjectives to create this distinction.

Mickey Mouse (Mikkii Mausu) Pikachu (based on a pika/rodent, often associated with mouse-like traits) The Boy Who Drew Cats (Japanese fairy tale featuring a giant rat)

Pratique na vida real

Contextos reais

Household Problems

ねずみが出た
ねずみの穴
ねずみ捕り
駆除する

Zodiac/New Year

子年
ねずみどし
最初の動物
年賀状

Pet Shop

ペットのねずみ
ハツカネズミ
ケージ
エサ

Folklore/Stories

ねずみの嫁入り
おむすびころりん
ねずみ浄土
昔々

Science/Lab

実験用マウス
ラット
データ
研究

Iniciadores de conversa

"ねずみ年（子年）に生まれましたか？ (Were you born in the Year of the Rat?)"

"ねずみは可愛いと思いますか、それとも怖いですか？ (Do you think mice are cute or scary?)"

"家にねずみが出たことがありますか？ (Have you ever had a mouse appear in your house?)"

"ミッキーマウスは好きですか？ (Do you like Mickey Mouse?)"

"あなたの国に有名なねずみの物語はありますか？ (Is there a famous mouse story in your country?)"

Temas para diário

もし自分がねずみだったら、どこに住みたいですか？ (If you were a mouse, where would you want to live?)

「窮鼠猫を噛む」ような経験をしたことがありますか？ (Have you ever had an experience like 'a cornered rat biting the cat'?)

ねずみと聞いて、最初に何を思い出しますか？ (When you hear 'mouse,' what is the first thing you remember?)

都会のねずみと田舎のねずみ、どちらの生活が良いですか？ (Which life is better, the town mouse or the country mouse?)

日本のねずみのキャラクターについて知っていることを書いてください。(Write what you know about Japanese mouse characters.)

Perguntas frequentes

10 perguntas

It means both! Japanese doesn't have separate common words based on size like English does. If you need to specify, you use 'dobu-nezumi' for rat and 'hatsuka-nezumi' for mouse.

Use the counter for small animals, which is '-hiki'. 1: ippiki, 2: nihiki, 3: sanbiki, 4: yonhiki, 5: gohiki.

Not really in casual writing. You'll see it in literature or on specific signs, but hiragana (ねずみ) or katakana (ネズミ) are much more common.

It's a pyramid scheme. The name comes from how the number of people involved grows exponentially, like a family of mice breeding.

According to legend, the mouse rode on the ox's head and jumped off at the finish line to win the race to the Heavenly Gate.

Not as much as 'rat' is in English. It might mean someone is small or sneaky, but it doesn't usually mean 'traitor'.

It is a medium to dark gray. It was a very popular color for kimonos in the past.

Literally 'mouse catching'. It can refer to a physical trap or a police speed trap on the road.

It depends. As characters (like Mickey or Guri and Gura), yes. As pests in the kitchen, definitely not!

It means 'a rat in a bag,' which is an idiom for being completely trapped with no way out.

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