noun
basket clam; freshwater clam
Refers to the living animal, especially Corbicula species, commonly used in miso soup.
See also: シジミ
しじみ貝は味噌汁の具として人気がある。
Basket clams are popular as an ingredient in miso soup.
海岸でしじみ貝の殻を拾った。
I picked up a basket clam shell on the beach.
しじみ alone can refer to the clam or its meat, while しじみ貝 emphasizes the whole shellfish including the shell.
Compound of しじみ (basket clam) and 貝 (shellfish). The origin of しじみ is uncertain, but it may be related to the verb 縮む (ちぢむ, 'to shrink'), referring to the clam's habit of closing tightly.