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シロチョウガイ (しろちょうがい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
silver-lipped pearl oyster ; golden-lipped pearl oyster ; white-lipped pearl oyster
usually written using kana alone
Refers to the large pearl oyster Pinctada maxima, known for producing high-quality pearls. The different English names reflect color variations of the shell's lip.
この 真しん 珠じゅ は シロチョウガイ から 採と れ た もの です 。
This pearl was harvested from a white-lipped pearl oyster.
Written forms シロチョウガイ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this shellfish name; usually written in kana.
白しろ 蝶ちょう 貝がい
Kanji spelling exists but is rarely used; the word is normally written in katakana.
Similar words アコヤガイ アコヤガイ (Pinctada fucata) is a smaller pearl oyster used for Akoya pearls, while シロチョウガイ is much larger and produces South Sea pearls.
真しん 珠じゅ 真珠 means 'pearl' in general; シロチョウガイ is the specific oyster species that produces certain types of pearls.
Etymology Compound of 白 (しろ, 'white') + 蝶 (ちょう, 'butterfly') + 貝 (がい, 'shellfish'), referring to the shell's butterfly-like shape and white lip. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.
