Translation guide
The animal, its meat as food, and figurative uses like a sprawling organization.
octopus (animal/food)
Referring to the sea creature itself.
The standard word for octopus. Often written in katakana, but kanji 蛸 or 章魚 exist.
水族館で大きなタコを見た。
I saw a big octopus at the aquarium.
Octopus meat, commonly eaten as sashimi, sushi, or takoyaki.
Describing a company or group with many branches or tentacles of influence.
Literally 'octopus legs', used metaphorically for something that spreads out in many directions, like a conglomerate or a messy wiring setup.
That company has a sprawling management structure; it's hard to tell what they're doing.
A simile meaning 'an organization like an octopus', implying it has many branches or is hard to grasp.
Calling someone an octopus because they cling or won't let go.
Slangy, meaning 'a guy like an octopus', implying he's clingy or stubborn. Not common.
He's like an octopus; once he says something, he won't listen.
A device used to catch octopuses.
An octopus trap pot. Also used metaphorically for a situation that's hard to escape.
The fisherman sank the octopus pots into the sea.
Although kanji exist (蛸, 章魚), タコ in katakana is the standard way to write 'octopus' in modern Japanese.
大阪でたこ焼きを食べた。
I ate takoyaki in Osaka.
That company is an octopus-like organization; you can't see the whole picture.