ヒメセミエビ

Meanings

slipper lobster (esp. Scyllarus cultrifer)

usually written using kana alone

Refers to a small slipper lobster of the genus Scyllarus, particularly the species Scyllarus cultrifer. Used in marine biology and culinary contexts.

ヒメセミエビは浅あさい海うみの岩いわ場ばに生せい息そくしている。
The slipper lobster lives in rocky areas of shallow seas.
この水すい族ぞく館かんではヒメセミエビの展てん示じが人にん気きだ。
The slipper lobster exhibit is popular at this aquarium.

Kanji

姫princess
蝉cicada
海sea, ocean
老old man, old age, grow old

Related words

セミエビ
セミエビ is a broader term for slipper lobsters in general, while ヒメセミエビ specifically refers to smaller species like Scyllarus cultrifer.

Built from

姫ひめ+セミエビ

Written forms

姫ひめ蝉せみ海老えび
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in taxonomic or specialized contexts; the word is usually written in kana.
ひめせみえび
Hiragana spelling is also used, especially in informal or educational contexts.

Etymology

Compound of 姫 (hime, 'princess; small and elegant') + 蝉海老 (semi-ebi, 'slipper lobster'), referring to a small species of slipper lobster. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the name likely describes its delicate appearance compared to larger slipper lobsters.