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ベニガイ (べにがい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

ベニガイ

Meanings

1

noun

full-blooded tellin (Pharaonella sieboldii)

usually written using kana alone

A species of marine bivalve mollusk. The name is usually written in katakana as ベニガイ.

ベニガイは日本にほんの海かい岸がんで見みられる二に枚まい貝がいの一いっ種しゅです。
The full-blooded tellin is a type of bivalve found on the coasts of Japan.

Written forms

ベニガイ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this species name; usually written in kana.
紅べに貝がい
Kanji spelling is possible but rarely used; the word is normally written in kana.

Kanji

紅crimson, deep red
貝shellfish

Etymology

The name ベニガイ (紅貝) literally means 'crimson shell', referring to the reddish color of the shell. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.