noun
spatula; pallet; tracing spatula
A flat, thin tool used for spreading, smoothing, or shaping materials. Common in cooking, pottery, and sewing.
ケーキにクリームをヘラで塗る。
Spread cream on the cake with a spatula.
陶芸ではヘラで粘土を整える。
In pottery, you shape the clay with a pallet.
noun
artificially cultured Japanese crucian carp
Refers to a selectively bred variety of crucian carp (ゲンゴロウブナ) raised for food. Primarily a technical term in fisheries and cuisine.
See also: ゲンゴロウブナ
この地域ではヘラの養殖が盛んだ。
Farming of cultured crucian carp is thriving in this region.
Rare kanji form; not commonly used in modern Japanese.
The origin is uncertain. The word へら has been used for flat tools since old Japanese, but its derivation is unclear. The fish sense is a specialized extension of the same word, possibly from the shape of the fish.