コバンザメ

コ

バ

ン

ザ

メ

Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

noun

remora; suckerfish

usually written using kana alone

General term for any fish of the remora family (Echeneidae), known for attaching to sharks, rays, and other large marine animals using a suction disc on their head.

コバンザメはサメのお腹なかにくっついて移い動どうする。
Remoras travel by attaching themselves to the bellies of sharks.

noun

live sharksucker

usually written using kana alone

Specifically refers to the species Echeneis naucrates, the most common remora found in Japanese waters. Often used interchangeably with the general term in everyday contexts.

ダイビング中ちゅうに大おおきなコバンザメを見みつけた。
I spotted a large live sharksucker while diving.

See all 3 example sentences ›

Kanji

小little, small
判judgement, judgment, signature
鮫shark

Related words

サメ
Shark; the host animal that remoras commonly attach to.
吸きゅう盤ばん
Suction cup; refers to the disc-like organ on the remora's head used for attachment.

Built from

小こ判ばん+サメ

Written forms

こばんざめ
Hiragana spelling is also used, especially in informal or child-oriented contexts.
小こ判ばん鮫ざめ
Kanji spelling is rare; the fish is almost always written in kana. The kanji 小判 (koban, a small oval gold coin) and 鮫 (shark) describe its shape and association with sharks.

Etymology

The name コバンザメ literally means 'small coin shark', from 小判 (koban, a small oval gold coin of the Edo period) and 鮫 (same, shark), referring to the fish's oval suction disc and its habit of attaching to sharks. The exact origin of the name is uncertain, but it is a descriptive compound.