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ネムリブカ (ねむりぶか) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ネムリブカ

Meanings

1

noun

whitetip reef shark

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to Triaenodon obesus, a common reef shark with white-tipped dorsal and tail fins.

ダイビング中ちゅうにネムリブカを見みかけた。
I spotted a whitetip reef shark while diving.

Written forms

ネムリブカ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
眠ねむり鱶ぶか
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
睡ねむり鱶ぶか
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.

Kanji

眠

sleep, die, sleepy

鱶shark

睡drowsy, sleep, die

Etymology

Compound of 眠り (nemuri, 'sleep') + 鱶 (fuka, 'shark'), likely from its habit of resting on the sea floor during the day. The exact origin is uncertain.