Meaning
The kanji 猟 (ryō) has the primary meanings of "hunt," "hunting," "game" (referring to prey or hunted animals), and "quarry." It refers to the act of pursuing and capturing wild animals for food, sport, or other purposes, as well as the animals targeted in such activities. This kanji is an N1-level Jōyō Kanji, commonly encountered in advanced Japanese.
It originated as a phono-semantic compound (形声文字 - keisei moji). The left-hand side, 犭 (けものへん - kemonohen), is the radical for "beast" or "animal." This radical clearly connects the kanji to wildlife and the animal kingdom, a concept central to hunting. The right-hand component, 卯 (ぼう, みょう, う), serves as the phonetic element, providing the 'RYŌ' sound. However, its original meaning ('fourth earthly branch' or 'rabbit') doesn't directly relate to 'hunt.' Nevertheless, some mnemonic interpretations connect 卯 to a visual of a gate or a crouching rabbit, suggesting capture or pursuit. This combination of the "animal" radical and a phonetic component that can be loosely associated with trapping or pursuit thus effectively conveys the meaning of "hunting."
The kanji 猟 has 11 strokes. While it is a Jōyō Kanji, it isn't taught in elementary school; instead, it's considered advanced, usually appearing at the N1 JLPT level or higher.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The main On'yomi reading for 猟 is リョウ (RYŌ). This reading is the most common in modern Japanese, especially when 猟 appears as part of a compound word (熟語 - jukugo). It is widely used in compound words to form nouns related to hunting, hunters, and related concepts.
- 猟師 (ryōshi) — This term refers to a hunter, literally translating to "hunting master" or "hunting professional." It is a common compound for someone who engages in hunting as a profession or serious hobby.
- 猟犬 (ryōken) — Meaning "hunting dog," this compound describes dogs specifically trained and used for hunting purposes.
- 狩猟 (shuryō) — A general and widely used term for "hunting," often referring to the activity of hunting game animals. This compound combines 狩 (hunt) and 猟 (hunt) to emphasize the meaning.
- 密猟 (mitsuryō) — This compound means "poaching" or "illegal hunting." The kanji 密 means "secret" or "clandestine," indicating the unlawful nature of the hunting activity.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings for 猟 are かり (kari) and かる (karu). However, for the noun "hunt" or "hunting," 狩り (かり) is far more common than 猟 (かり) in modern Japanese. Similarly, for the verb "to hunt," 狩る (かる) is the standard form, and 猟る (かる) is now considered archaic or literary.
かり (kari) — As a noun, it means "hunt" or "hunting." Although 猟 read as かり is rare on its own today, you might find it in some traditional or specific compound names for hunting activities, often interchangeable with 狩り.
鳥猟 (torigari) — Bird hunting. While often written as 鳥狩り, 猟 can be used to denote this activity.
鹿猟 (shikagari) — Deer hunting. Similar to bird hunting, 鹿狩り is more common, but 猟 appears in this context.
かる (karu) — This is an archaic or literary verb form meaning "to hunt." In modern Japanese, the kanji 狩る (かる) is exclusively used for the verb "to hunt."
獣を猟る (kemono o karu) — To hunt beasts (archaic/literary expression).
猟る (karu) — To hunt (verb, generally considered archaic or poetic in modern texts).
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 猟 often appears in compound words, mostly with its On'yomi reading リョウ. These compounds explore various aspects of hunting, including participants, equipment, types of hunting, and even figurative applications.
Hunting Personnel & Equipment:
猟師 (ryōshi) — A hunter; a person engaged in hunting.
猟犬 (ryōken) — A hunting dog, specifically bred or trained for hunting.
猟銃 (ryōjū) — A hunting gun or rifle.
Types of Hunting & Related Activities:
狩猟 (shuryō) — General term for hunting (animals).
密猟 (mitsuryō) — Poaching; illegal hunting.
遊猟 (yūryō) — Hunting for sport or recreation.
漁猟 (gyoryō) — Fishing and hunting; encompassing both aquatic and terrestrial hunting.
鳥獣猟 (chōjūryō) — Hunting birds and beasts.
猟場 (ryōba) — Hunting ground; an area designated for hunting.
猟期 (ryōki) — Hunting season; the period during which hunting is permitted.
出猟 (shutsuryō) — Setting out for a hunt; departing for a hunting expedition.
Figurative & Specific Contexts:
猟奇的 (ryōkiteki) — Bizarre, grotesque, sensational. Often used to describe strange or gruesome events, especially crimes, reflecting a "hunt for sensation."
猟色 (ryōshoku) — Lechery, womanizing. This compound literally means "hunting for sex" or "chasing after women."
猟友会 (ryōyūkai) — A hunters' association, a common organization for hunters in Japan.
Example Sentences
彼は猟が趣味です。
Kare wa ryō ga shumi desu.
His hobby is hunting.
山奥に猟師の小屋があります。
Yamaoku ni ryōshi no koya ga arimasu.
There is a hunter's cabin deep in the mountains.
昔は猟犬を使って、鳥猟をしていました。
Mukashi wa ryōken o tsukatte, chōryō o shite imashita.
In the past, people used hunting dogs for bird hunting.
密猟者が希少動物を狙っています。
Mitsuryōsha ga kishō dōbutsu o neratte imasu.
Poachers are targeting rare animals.
禁猟区では一切の猟が禁止されています。
Kinryōku de wa issai no ryō ga kinshi sarete imasu.
All hunting is prohibited in the no-hunting zone.
彼は女性を猟色する癖があると噂されています。
Kare wa josei o ryōshoku suru kuse ga aru to uwasa sarete imasu.
He is rumored to have a habit of womanizing.
その事件の猟奇性に、世間は震撼しました。
Sono jiken no ryōkisei ni, seken wa shinkan shimashita.
The public was shocked by the bizarre nature of that incident.
祖父は昔、冬になると狩猟に出かけていました。
Sofu wa mukashi, fuyu ni naru to shuryō ni dekakete imashita.
My grandfather used to go hunting in winter.
自然保護のため、猟の規制が厳しくなっています。
Shizen hogo no tame, ryō no kisei ga kibishiku natte imasu.
Due to nature conservation, hunting regulations are becoming stricter.
この地域は豊かな猟場として知られています。
Kono chiiki wa yutaka na ryōba to shite shirarete imasu.
This area is known as a rich hunting ground.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 猟 (ryō), focus on its parts. The left side is the radical 犭 (けものへん), which represents a "beast" or "animal." This directly links to hunting. The right side is 卯, which serves as the phonetic component. While 卯 primarily means "rabbit" or the "fourth earthly branch," you can imagine a story: a beast (犭) attempting to hunt a rabbit (卯). The rabbit is often associated with being prey, reinforcing the hunting theme effectively. Alternatively, visualize the 犭 (animal) being caught within a trap or a closed space implied by the shape of 卯 (which can resemble a bolted door or a closed gate). This combination of an animal and a subtle hint of capture or chase helps solidify 'hunt' as the meaning for 猟.