catfish
Refers to catfish, especially the Amur catfish (Silurus asotus). Commonly associated with earthquake lore.
Catfish live at the bottom of rivers.
Archaic slang for earthquake, derived from the folk belief that a giant catfish causes earthquakes.
日本ではナマズが地震を予知するという言い伝えがある。
In Japan, there is a legend that catfish predict earthquakes.
In the Edo period, earthquakes were sometimes called 'namazu'.
slippery as an eel; elusive person
upside-down catfish
electric catfish
Wels catfish
Usually written in katakana; the kanji 鯰 is less common.
Kanji form; encountered but less frequent than katakana.
The word is native Japanese. The kanji 鯰 is a kokuji (Japanese-made kanji) combining 魚 (fish) and 念 (thought, care), possibly reflecting the catfish's perceived sensitivity or the folk belief linking it to earthquakes.