マッコウクジラ

マ

ッ

コ

ウ

ク

ジ

ラ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

sperm whale

usually written using kana alone

The common name for Physeter macrocephalus, a large toothed whale known for its distinctive block-shaped head and for producing ambergris.

マッコウクジラは深しん海かいに潜むぐって巨きょ大だいなイカを捕ほ食しょくする。
Sperm whales dive deep into the ocean to prey on giant squid.
博はく物ぶつ館かんにマッコウクジラの骨こっ格かく標ひょう本ほんが展てん示じされている。
A sperm whale skeleton is on display at the museum.

Kanji

抹rub, paint, erase
香incense, smell, perfume
鯨whale

Related words

鯨くじら
General term for whale; マッコウクジラ is a specific species.
白はく鯨げい
Literary term for the white whale (Moby Dick); not a standard species name like マッコウクジラ.

Written forms

抹まっ香こう鯨くじら
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana. The kanji 抹香 (incense) refers to the waxy substance (ambergris) historically associated with this whale.
まっこうくじら
Hiragana spelling is also seen, especially in children's materials or when avoiding katakana.

Etymology

The name マッコウクジラ derives from 抹香 (まっこう, incense powder), referring to the waxy substance ambergris produced in the whale's intestines, historically used in perfumery and incense. The exact origin of the reading shift from まっこう to まっこう is uncertain.