Translation guide
In Japanese, 'tortoiseshell' can refer to the material from hawksbill turtle shells (bekkō), the cat coat pattern (sabitora or bekkō), or the butterfly. The most common meaning is the traditional craft material.
The mottled brown and yellow material from the shell of the hawksbill turtle, used for ornaments and crafts.
The standard term for tortoiseshell as a material. Often used in compounds like 鼈甲細工 (bekkō zaiku, tortoiseshell craft).
This comb is made of tortoiseshell.
A cat with a mottled coat of black, brown, and orange, often called 'tortoiseshell' or 'tortie' in English.
Literally 'rust tiger', this is the common term for a tortoiseshell cat with tabby stripes. Often shortened to サビ (sabi) in casual contexts.
Our tortoiseshell cat is very friendly.
Literally 'tortoiseshell cat', this term is less common than 錆虎 but still understood. It may refer to a cat with a pattern resembling the material.
Tortoiseshell cats are almost always female.
A butterfly of the Nymphalis genus, such as the small tortoiseshell or large tortoiseshell.
鼈甲 (bekkō) specifically refers to the processed shell of the hawksbill turtle. For a general turtle shell, use 亀の甲羅 (kame no kōra).