ごまふあざらし

ご

ま

ふ

あ

ざ

ら

し

Meanings

1

noun

spotted seal

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to the species Phoca largha, a seal with distinctive spotted markings. The name literally means 'sesame-speckled sea leopard'.

北ほっ海かい道どうの沿えん岸がんでは、冬ふゆになるとごまふあざらしが見みられることがある。
Along the coast of Hokkaido, spotted seals can sometimes be seen in winter.

胡barbarian, foreign
麻hemp, flax, numb
斑spot, blemish, speck
海sea, ocean
豹leopard, panther

Similar words

あざらし
General term for 'seal'. ごまふあざらし is a specific species within this broader category.
海豹あざらし
Kanji spelling for 'seal' in general, but rarely used. ごまふあざらし is a compound with 胡麻斑 (sesame speckles) to specify the spotted pattern.

Etymology

Compound of 胡麻斑 (ごまふ, 'sesame speckles') + 海豹 (あざらし, 'seal'). The name describes the spotted coat pattern. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the components are transparent.