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ゴンドウクジラ (ごんどうくじら) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
pilot whale ; blackfish ; larger Delphinidae whale
usually written using kana alone
Refers to larger members of the dolphin family, especially pilot whales (genus Globicephala) and similar species. In everyday Japanese, ゴンドウクジラ usually means pilot whale.
の
ショー
を
見み
た
。
I saw a pilot whale show at the aquarium.
Written forms ゴンドウクジラ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
巨頭鯨ごんどうくじら
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
Kanji 頭 head, counter for large animals Similar words イルカ イルカ is the general term for dolphins and smaller Delphinidae, while ゴンドウクジラ refers specifically to larger species like pilot whales.
クジラ クジラ is the broad term for whales; ゴンドウクジラ is a specific type within the dolphin family, not a true whale.
Etymology The name ゴンドウクジラ likely derives from 巨頭 (ごんどう, 'huge head') + 鯨 (くじら, 'whale'), referring to the bulbous head of pilot whales. The exact historical origin is uncertain.
