Japanese deer
- noun
:
ciervo japonés
- The Japanese deer roams freely in many of Nara's parks, where it is considered sacred.
Examples
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With its elegant antlers, the Japanese deer is a popular subject in traditional Japanese art.
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The Japanese deer is often seen in Nara Park.
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Researchers have been studying the migration patterns of the Japanese deer for decades.
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Look at that Japanese deer!
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The Japanese deer roams freely in many of Nara's parks, where it is considered sacred.
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Researchers have been studying the migration patterns of the Japanese deer for decades.
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With its elegant antlers, the Japanese deer is a popular subject in traditional Japanese art.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small deer with white spots found in East Asia, especially Japan
A small deer from Japan with spots and slightly forked antlers
A small deer that lives in East Asia, especially Japan, with small forked antlers and a spotted coat
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a deer from Japan' is directly and transparently derived from combining the adjective 'Japanese' (of or from Japan) with the noun 'deer' (a hoofed mammal); a learner who knows both words will infer it refers to a deer native to or associated with Japan. This simple adjective+noun composition follows common cross-linguistic patterns and standard English grammar, making it immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
The compound noun Japanese deer comes from the two words Japanese and deer. Picture deer wandering in places like Nara, where people are friendly with them and treat them as 'special', so the phrase simply means 'a deer from Japan'.