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腹子 (はらこ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

腹はら子こ

は

ら

こ

Meanings

1

noun

fish eggs; roe

Refers to the eggs inside a fish, often used in cooking contexts. Common in dishes like はらこ飯 (salmon roe rice).

この鮭さけの腹はら子こはとても新しん鮮せんだ。
The roe of this salmon is very fresh.
宮みや城ぎ県けんの名めい物ぶつ、はらこ飯めしを食たべてみたい。
I want to try harako-meshi, a specialty of Miyagi Prefecture.

Written forms

腹はら子こUsage50%
Standard kanji spelling for fish eggs/roe.
ハラコUsage29%
はらこUsage21%
Kana spelling is common in everyday contexts, especially in cooking and menus.

Kanji

腹

abdomen, belly, stomach

子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM

Similar words

いくら
Salmon roe, specifically the individual eggs separated and often salted or soy-marinated. 腹子 refers to the whole egg sac or eggs still inside the fish.
たらこ
Cod roe, a common ingredient. 腹子 is a broader term for fish eggs in general.

Etymology

Compound of 腹 (はら, 'belly') and 子 (こ, 'child'). Literally 'belly children', referring to the eggs carried in a fish's belly.