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甲烏賊 (こういか) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

甲こう烏賊いか

also: こうイカ

こ

う

い

か

Meanings

1

noun

golden cuttlefish; cuttlefish (family Sepiidae)

Refers specifically to Sepia esculenta, a common edible cuttlefish in Japan, but can also be used broadly for any cuttlefish of the family Sepiidae.

市いち場ばで新しん鮮せんな甲こう烏賊いかを買かった。
I bought fresh golden cuttlefish at the market.
コウイカの墨すみは料りょう理りに使つかわれる。
Cuttlefish ink is used in cooking.

Written forms

甲こう烏賊いかUsage4%
Standard kanji spelling for the species.
コウイカUsage96%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling, often used in biological or culinary contexts.
甲こうイカ
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling, common in menus and casual contexts.
こうイカ

Kanji

甲armor, high (voice), A grade

烏crow, raven

賊burglar, rebel, traitor

Similar words

イカ
General term for squid; 甲烏賊 specifically refers to cuttlefish, which have a broader, thicker body and an internal shell.
スルメイカ
Japanese flying squid, a different species commonly dried and eaten as するめ.

Etymology

Compound of 甲 (こう, 'shell, carapace') and 烏賊 (いか, 'squid/cuttlefish'), referring to the prominent internal shell (cuttlebone) characteristic of cuttlefish.