also: ほおづき · ほうずき
ground cherry; Chinese lantern plant
Refers to the plant Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, known for its bright orange lantern-like calyx. Often associated with summer and Obon festivals.
The ground cherries are bearing red fruit in the garden.
There is a custom of displaying Chinese lantern plants during the Obon festival.
children's noisemaking toy made from a ground cherry
A traditional toy made by removing the seeds from a ground cherry and blowing into it to produce a sound. Often played with by children.
When I was a child, I played by making sounds with a ground cherry toy.
monkey flower; mimulus
black nightshade (Solanum nigrum)
lamp shell; lampshell
colossal squid
Kana spelling is standard; the word is usually written in kana.
Katakana spelling used in botanical contexts or for emphasis.
Rare kanji spelling; ateji with 鬼 (demon) and 灯 (lamp).
Rare kanji spelling; mainly in literary or specialized contexts.
Rare kanji spelling; traditional form of 鬼灯.
Alternate reading with づ; less common.
Irregular kana usage; included for search coverage.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 酸漿 literally means 'sour drink', possibly referring to the fruit's taste. 鬼灯 (demon lamp) is ateji, likely inspired by the lantern-like appearance.