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Can the word Tanuki 狸 mean both raccoon dogs and badgers in Japanese like the word Mujina 狢?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
No, according to every source on the web and also my knowledge 狸 /ta nu ki/ is only used to refer to 'raccoon dog'. However according to wikipedia, there is a small exception in Tochigi Prefecture in Japan that tanuki was actually used to refer to 'badgers' not raccoon dogs, but even if true it only would be local exception and most probably and old one too.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoMujina is an old Japanese term primarily referring to the badger. In some regions the term refers instead to the raccoon dog (also called tanuki) or to introduced civets. Adding to the confusion, in some regions badger-like animals are also known as mami, and in one part of Tochigi Prefecture badgers are referred to as tanuki and raccoon dogs are referred to as mujina.
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Is a mujina a badger a raccoon dog or both?
Mujina is an old Japanese term primarily referring to the badger. In some regions the term refers instead to the raccoon dog (also called tanuki) or to introduced civets.
Can Mujina mean raccoon dogs in Japanese?
Yes. Specifically, Nyctereutes procyonoides. The other word for raccoon dog is Tanuki, which is specifically Nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus or the folk-law creature.
Can the word Tanuki 狸 mean both raccoon dogs and badgers in Japanese?
No, with the exception of Tochigi Prefecture.
What is a tanuki?
The Japanese Raccoon Dog, also known as tanuki in Japanese, is a subspecies of the Asian raccoon dog.
What is the Chinese equivalent to the Japanese Tanuki?
Well, some people might say the Huli Jing (狐狸精), the chinese fox, is the Chinese equivalent to the Tanuki. But, the raccoon dog (tanuki) is known in Chinese folklore and mythology (along with the badger (mujina)), but both (raccoon dog and badger) seldom appear in Chinese folklore and mythology.
Is the Japanese word for Badger Anaguma or Mujina or both?
The word used depends on the area you are in. For example, in Tochigi prefecture they call アナグマ (anaguma), タヌキ (tanuki) and タヌキ, ムジナ (mujina). Thus, there is presented a particularly complex situation over which term is correct. Though in general, アナグマ means badger, タヌキ means raccoon-dog, and 貉・狢 (mujina) is actually a very old term for referring to badgers. So, in short they are both correct depending on the area you are in, or both incorrect depending on the area you are in.
Can tanuki mean badgers as well as raccoon dogs in Japanese?
No. 狸 /ta nu ki/ means 'raccoon dog' and 穴熊 /a na gu ma/ means 'badger'. 狢 /mu ji na/ is a word for both of them.
What is tanuki?
is a animal that lives in japan and it is a wild tanku
What animal is shakaku from naruto?
It is based on the Japanese demon tanuki, a raccoon dog.
What would a chibi raccoon be called in Japanese?
ちび狸 Chibi tanuki
Could it be possible that the Tanuki 狸 and Mujina 狢 of Japanese folklore originated from China?
The possibility is almost non-existent. Tanuki and badgers have a deep root in Japanese history and folklore as well as foxes or demons. You do not see such development of cultural items and beliefs about them outside Japan, and the creatures themselves are also mostly found in Japan, since ancient times. The word tanuki in its very old usage was used to refer to cat-like creautres, small mamal in other words but gained its distinguished meaning of 'raccoon dog(s)' throughout Japanese culture, and is widely used in their comedy, folklore and media culture. The Kanji 狸 reads 'tanuki' as its 'Kun'yomi' which means 'japanese original reading' of a kanji, the more reason to believe that it does not necessarily go back to Chinese historic associations with Japan.
Can the word tanuki mean raccoon dogs and or badgers or just raccoon dogs?
Specifically, 穴熊 /ana gu ma/ means 'badger' and 狸/ta nu ki/ is the word for 'tanuki, raccoon dog'. 狢 /ma ji na/ on the other hand is a word used to refer to them both, but still they are different.
