動物園

どうぶつえん

zoo

JLPT N4

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"動物園" (どうぶつえん) means "zoo" in Japanese. It refers to a place where various animals are kept for public viewing and education.

Common Contexts

People often visit 動物園 on weekends or holidays for leisure and to see animals like pandas, lions, or elephants. It is a popular destination for families with children.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 動物園へ行く: to go to the zoo
  • 動物園で見る: to see (animals) at the zoo
  • 動物園の入場料: zoo entrance fee

These phrases are frequently used in everyday conversation when talking about visiting or planning a trip to the zoo.

Register and Nuance

The word 動物園 is neutral and commonly used in both casual and polite speech. It is a straightforward noun without honorific or humble forms.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 動物園 with 水族館 (すいぞくかん, aquarium). Remember 動物園 is for land animals, while 水族館 is for aquatic animals.

Example Sentences

こどもたちはしゅうまつにどうぶつえんへいきました。

The children went to the zoo on the weekend.

どうぶつえんでぱんだをみるのがたのしみです。

I’m looking forward to seeing the pandas at the zoo.

どうぶつえんのにゅうじょうりょうはいくらですか?

How much is the entrance fee for the zoo?