swimming crab; Portunus trituberculatus
Refers specifically to the swimming crab species Portunus trituberculatus, commonly eaten in Japan. The word is usually written in kana.
See also: ワタリガニ
Swimming crab is delicious in miso soup.
I bought some lively swimming crabs at the market.
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Obsolete kanji form; it is out-dated.
The origin is uncertain; the word is native Japanese. The kanji 蝤蛑 are rare and obsolete.