noun
black porgy; blackhead seabream
A common fish in Japanese waters, often targeted by anglers. The scientific name is Acanthopagrus schlegelii.
See also: 黒鯛
昨日、堤防で大きなチヌを釣った。
Yesterday I caught a big black porgy off the breakwater.
チヌは冬場に美味しくなる。
Black porgy tastes best in winter.
Synonym for the same fish; 黒鯛 is the kanji-based name, while チヌ is the common kana name, especially in western Japan.
The origin of チヌ is uncertain; it may be a regional name for the fish. The kanji 茅渟 are ateji and do not reflect the meaning.