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クロチョウガイ (くろちょうがい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

クロチョウガイ

Meanings

1

noun

black-lip pearl oyster

usually written using kana alone

Scientific/common name for Pinctada margaritifera, a marine bivalve known for producing black pearls.

クロチョウガイは黒くろ真しん珠じゅを産さんすることで知しられている。
The black-lip pearl oyster is known for producing black pearls.

Written forms

クロチョウガイ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this species name; usually written in kana.
黒くろ蝶ちょう貝がい
Kanji spelling is used in some contexts, but the katakana form is more common.

Kanji

黒black
蝶butterfly
貝

shellfish

Etymology

Compound of 黒 (kuro, 'black') + 蝶 (chō, 'butterfly') + 貝 (kai, 'shellfish'), referring to the shell's dark, wing-like appearance. The reading ちょうがい is a standard rendaku form.