noun
cheek pouch
Refers to the expandable cheek pouches of animals such as monkeys and squirrels, used for storing food.
猿は猿頬にたくさんの木の実を詰め込んだ。
The monkey stuffed many nuts into its cheek pouches.
noun
samurai face guard; chin-and-cheek mask
A historical piece of armor: an iron mask covering the chin and cheeks, part of a samurai helmet (menpō).
博物館で、猿頬と呼ばれる鉄の面頬を見学した。
At the museum, I saw an iron face guard called a sarubō.
noun
Anadara kagoshimensis (ark clam)
Abbreviation of 猿頰貝 (sarubōgai), a species of ark clam. Used mainly in culinary or biological contexts.
See also: 猿頰貝
猿頬は、寿司ネタとしても知られている。
Sarubō is also known as a sushi topping.
頬袋 is the general term for 'cheek pouch' in animals; 猿頬 specifically evokes the image of a monkey's pouch and can also refer to the samurai mask or clam.
面頬 is a broader term for samurai face armor; 猿頬 is a specific type that covers only the chin and cheeks.
猿頰貝 is the full name of the ark clam; 猿頬 is the abbreviated form used in everyday contexts.
Compound of 猿 (saru, 'monkey') and 頬 (hō/bō, 'cheek'), literally 'monkey cheek'. The samurai mask sense derives from its resemblance to a monkey's puffed cheeks. The clam name is an abbreviation of 猿頰貝, likely from the shell's shape.