チョウチンアンコウ

ちょ

う

ち

ん

あ

ん

こ

う

Meanings

1

noun

football fish; Atlantic footballfish

usually written using kana alone

Refers to deep-sea anglerfish of the family Himantolophidae, especially Himantolophus groenlandicus. The name comes from the bioluminescent lure resembling a paper lantern (提灯).

深しん海かいにはチョウチンアンコウのような発はっ光こうする魚さかながいる

。

In the deep sea, there are bioluminescent fish like the football fish.

チョウチンアンコウのメスは頭あたまに提灯ちょうちんのような突とっ起きがある。

The female football fish has a lantern-like protrusion on its head.

Kanji

提propose, take along, carry in hand
灯lamp, a light, light
鮟angler-fish
鱇anglerfish

Related words

アンコウ
アンコウ is the general term for anglerfish (often the edible monkfish), while チョウチンアンコウ specifically refers to the deep-sea football fish with a bioluminescent lure.

Word family

ミツクリエナガチョウチンアンコウ
triplewart seadevil

Built from

提灯ちょうちん+あんこう

Written forms

チョウチンアンコウ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this deep-sea fish name.
提灯鮟鱇ちょうちんあんこう
Kanji spelling is rare; the word is usually written in kana. The kanji 提灯 means 'paper lantern' and 鮟鱇 means 'anglerfish', reflecting its appearance.

Etymology

Compound of 提灯 (chōchin, 'paper lantern') and 鮟鱇 (ankō, 'anglerfish'), referring to the fish's lantern-like bioluminescent lure. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the name is descriptive of its appearance.