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).
この櫛は鼈甲でできています。
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.
うちの錆虎はとても人懐っこいです。
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.
鼈甲猫はほとんどがメスです。
Tortoiseshell cats are almost always female.
A butterfly of the Nymphalis genus, such as the small tortoiseshell or large tortoiseshell.
The small tortoiseshell butterfly (Aglais urticae). A specific species name.
黄蛺蝶が花に止まっている。
A small tortoiseshell butterfly is resting on the flower.
The large tortoiseshell butterfly (Nymphalis polychloros).
大黄蛺蝶は珍しい蝶です。
The large tortoiseshell is a rare butterfly.
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).