noun
half-lined cardinalfish
A small marine fish (Ostorhinchus semilineatus) found in the western Pacific. The Japanese name literally means 'prayer sea bream', possibly from its appearance or behavior.
ネンブツダイは夜行性で、昼間は岩陰に隠れている。
The half-lined cardinalfish is nocturnal and hides in rock crevices during the day.
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is uncommon; the fish is almost always written in kana.
The name ネンブツダイ (念仏鯛) literally means 'prayer sea bream', but the exact origin is uncertain. It may refer to the fish's appearance or behavior resembling a person in prayer.