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コチョウザメ (こちょうざめ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

コチョウザメ

Meanings

1

noun

sterlet

usually written using kana alone

A species of sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus). The Japanese name is usually written in katakana.

See also: 変わり蝶鮫

コチョウザメはチョウザメの一いっ種しゅで、キャビアがとれる。
The sterlet is a type of sturgeon from which caviar is obtained.

Written forms

コチョウザメ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
小こ蝶ちょう鮫ざめ
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the katakana form is strongly preferred.

Kanji

小little, small
蝶butterfly
鮫

shark

Similar words

チョウザメ
チョウザメ is the general term for sturgeon, while コチョウザメ refers specifically to the sterlet species.
変かわり蝶ちょう鮫ざめ
Listed as a cross-reference; likely a variant or related sturgeon name.

Etymology

The name コチョウザメ literally means 'small butterfly shark', but the exact origin of the name is uncertain. It is a compound of 小 (ko, 'small') + 蝶鮫 (chōzame, 'sturgeon').