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リュウキュウアユ (りゅうきゅうあゆ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

リュウキュウアユ

Meanings

1

noun

Ryukyu sweetfish

usually written using kana alone

A subspecies of sweetfish (ayu) endemic to the Ryukyu Islands. Scientific name: Plecoglossus altivelis ryukyuensis.

See also: 鮎

リュウキュウアユは沖おき縄なわの川かわに生せい息そくする固こ有ゆう亜あ種しゅです。
The Ryukyu sweetfish is an endemic subspecies that inhabits rivers in Okinawa.

Written forms

リュウキュウアユ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this species name; usually written in kana.
琉りゅう球きゅう鮎あゆ
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is usually written in kana.

Kanji

琉precious stone, gem, lapis lazuli
球ball, sphere
鮎

freshwater trout, smelt

Similar words

鮎あゆ
Refers to the common sweetfish (Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis) found in mainland Japan, whereas リュウキュウアユ is a distinct subspecies limited to the Ryukyu Islands.

Etymology

Compound of 琉球 (Ryūkyū, 'Ryukyu') and 鮎 (ayu, 'sweetfish'). The name directly describes the fish's geographic origin.