Translation guide
The English word 'starfish' refers to the marine animal. In Japanese, the most common term is ヒトデ, but there are also scientific and alternative names.
Referring to the star-shaped marine creature in general contexts.
The standard, everyday word for starfish. Written in katakana, but also sometimes in kanji as 海星 or 人手.
I found a starfish on the beach.
A kanji term for starfish, literally 'sea star'. More formal or literary than ヒトデ.
An alternative kanji writing for ヒトデ, literally 'human hand', but rarely used. May cause confusion with the word for 'other people's hands'.
This kanji form is uncommon and can be misread as '人手 (ひとで)' meaning 'someone else's hands' or 'help'.
Starfish have high regenerative abilities.
Starfish are classified as echinoderms.
この人手は珍しい種類だ。
This starfish is a rare species.