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Kotomora

貝

shellfish

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 1FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • バイ

Kun'yomi

  • かい

Meaning

貝 centers on shellfish: the hard-shelled sea creatures themselves, and by extension the shells that were historically used as currency.

Most common words using 貝

20 of 183
  • 貝かい
    N2

    shellfish

  • 貝殻かいがら
    N1

    seashell; shell

  • 貝塚かいづか

    shell heap; shell mound; kitchen midden

  • 貝類かいるい

    shellfish

  • 貽貝いがい

    Korean mussel (Mytilus coruscus)

  • 貝柱かいばしら

    adductor muscle

  • 鸚鵡貝おうむがい

    chambered nautilus (esp. species Nautilus pompilius)

  • ムール貝ムールがい

    (edible) mussel (esp. the Mediterranean mussel or blue mussel)

  • 二枚貝にまいがい

    bivalve

  • ほら貝ほらがい

    conch (esp. Charonia tritonis); trumpet shell

  • 赤貝あかがい

    blood clam (Scapharca broughtonii); ark shell

  • 巻き貝まきがい

    snail; spiral shell

  • 片貝かたかい

    univalve

  • 宝貝たからがい

    cowrie; cowry

  • 帆立貝ほたてがい

    Japanese scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis); Yesso scallop

  • 貝殻虫かいがらむし

    scale insect

  • からす貝からすがい

    cockscomb pearl mussel (Cristaria plicata)

  • しじみ貝しじみがい

    basket clam (Corbiculidae spp.); freshwater clam

  • つぶ貝つぶがい

    whelk (esp. Neptunea and Buccinum spp.)

  • ほら貝を吹くほらがいをふく

    to blow a conch; to blow a trumpet shell; to blow the war horn

Explore all words using 貝 →

Study

Etymology

貝 is a pictograph of a shellfish with its shell and soft body. The modern form retains the shell-like shape with a closed top and dangling lower parts.

Meaning mnemonic

The top box is the hard shell, and the two strokes below are the soft body peeking out. Picture a clam opening slightly: 貝 is a shellfish.

Reading mnemonic

For バイ, imagine buying a shellfish at the market: buy -> バイ, and you get a fresh clam.