シロカジキ

Meanings

black marlin

usually written using kana alone

A large game fish (Makaira indica) found in tropical and subtropical waters. In Japanese, it is a specific type of marlin, distinct from other billfish.

シロカジキはカジキマグロの一いっ種しゅで、最さい高こう級きゅうの食しょく材ざいとして扱あつかわれる。
The black marlin is a type of marlin and is treated as a top-quality ingredient.
沖おき縄なわの海うみではシロカジキがよく釣つれる。
Black marlin are often caught in the seas around Okinawa.

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Kanji

白white
舵rudder, helm, wheel
木tree, wood

Related words

カジキ
カジキ is the general term for marlin or billfish. シロカジキ specifically refers to the black marlin (Makaira indica).
マカジキ
マカジキ is the striped marlin (Kajikia audax), another common marlin species in Japan. シロカジキ is a different species, the black marlin.

Built from

白しろ+舵かじ+木き

Written forms

しろかじき
Hiragana spelling, also acceptable but less common than katakana for this fish name.
白しろ舵かじ木き
Kanji form is rare and may not be widely recognized. The reading しろかじき is not obvious from the kanji.

Etymology

Compound of 白 (しろ, 'white') + 舵木 (かじき, 'marlin'). The name likely refers to the lighter coloration of the fish compared to other marlin species. The exact origin of the name is uncertain.