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Kotomora

鰐

alligator, crocodile

Strokes20

Readings

On'yomi

  • ガク

Kun'yomi

  • わに

Meaning

鰐 centers on large aquatic reptiles with armored skin: alligators and crocodiles. The two meanings are essentially the same animal group, distinguished only by regional species.

Most common words using 鰐

20 of 21
  • 鰐わに

    crocodile; alligator

  • アフリカ口長鰐アフリカくちながわに

    African slender-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus)

  • アメリカ鰐アメリカわに

    American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

  • オリノコ鰐オリノコわに

    Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius)

  • オーストラリア鰐オーストラリアわに

    freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnsoni); Australian freshwater crocodile; Johnston's crocodile

  • ナイル鰐ナイルわに

    Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

  • フィリピン鰐フィリピンわに

    Philippine crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis)

  • ミシシッピ鰐ミシシッピわに

    American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

  • 内鰐うちわに

    knock-kneed; pigeon-toed

  • 外鰐そとわに

    walking with feet pointing outward

  • 待兼鰐まちかねわに

    Toyotamaphimeia machikanensis (Japanese fossil species of crocodilian)

  • 揚子江鰐ようすこうわに

    Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis)

  • 沼鰐ぬまわに

    mugger crocodile (Crocodylus palustris); marsh crocodile; Indian crocodile; Indus crocodile; Persian crocodile

  • 白鰐しろわに

    sand tiger shark (Carcharias taurus); gray nurse shark

  • 鰐亀わにがめ

    alligator snapping turtle (Macroclemys temminckii)

  • 鰐口わにぐち

    wide mouth

  • 鰐梨わになし

    avocado (Persea americana); alligator pear

  • 鰐皮わにがわ

    crocodile or alligator skin (hide)

  • 鰐魚がくぎょ

    crocodile; alligator; crocodilian

  • 鰐鮫わにざめ

    ferocious shark

Explore all words using 鰐 →

Study

Etymology

鰐 combines 魚 (fish) with 咢, which likely contributes the sound. The character treats the crocodilian as a kind of fish-like creature, a common historical classification.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 魚 (fish) suggests a water creature, and the right side 咢 looks like a wide mouth with sharp teeth. Picture a fish-like reptile with a huge, toothy jaw: an alligator or crocodile.

Reading mnemonic

For ガク, imagine a crocodile snapping its jaws shut with a loud 'gaku!' sound. The sharp, sudden noise cues ガク while the crocodile's mouth closes.