ヒトデ
Meanings
1
starfish; sea star
usually written using kana alone
General term for any echinoderm of the class Asteroidea. In everyday Japanese, ヒトデ is the standard word.
I found a starfish on the beach.
Starfish are known for their high regenerative ability.
2
northern Pacific seastar
usually written using kana alone
Specifically Asterias amurensis, a common species in northern Japan. Often used in biological or fishing contexts.
In Hokkaido, the northern Pacific seastar sometimes causes damage to fisheries.
Usage patterns
- 〈場所〉でヒトデを拾うto pick up a starfish at a place (e.g. beach)
I picked up a starfish on the beach.