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スミイカ (すみいか) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

スミイカ

す

み

い

か

Meanings

1

noun

golden cuttlefish

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to Sepia esculenta, a species of cuttlefish. In everyday contexts, スミイカ may be used loosely for similar cuttlefish.

スミイカは高こう級きゅう食しょく材ざいとして知しられている。
The golden cuttlefish is known as a high-grade ingredient.

2

noun

Japanese spineless cuttlefish

Refers specifically to Sepiella japonica. Less commonly encountered than the golden cuttlefish in culinary contexts.

この辺あたりではスミイカの一いっ種しゅが獲とれる。
A type of spineless cuttlefish is caught around here.

Written forms

スミイカUsage100%
kana-only spelling
Usually written in katakana; usually written in kana.
墨すみ烏賊いか
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana.

Kanji

墨black ink, India ink, ink stick
烏crow, raven

賊burglar, rebel, traitor

Similar words

イカ
イカ is the general term for squid and cuttlefish, while スミイカ refers to specific cuttlefish species.
コウイカ
コウイカ is another common cuttlefish species (Sepia officinalis), often distinguished from スミイカ in culinary and biological contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 墨 (sumi, 'ink') and 烏賊 (ika, 'squid/cuttlefish'), referring to the cuttlefish's ink. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.