Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

トラフグ (とらふぐ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

トラフグ

と

ら

ふ

ぐ

Meanings

1

noun

Japanese pufferfish; tiger puffer

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to Takifugu rubripes, a highly prized but potentially deadly fugu species. Often used in culinary contexts.

トラフグは高こう級きゅうなふぐ料りょう理りに使つかわれる。
Tiger puffer is used in high-class fugu cuisine.
トラフグの肝かん臓ぞうには強つよい毒どくがある。
The liver of the tiger puffer contains a potent poison.

Written forms

トラフグUsage84%
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
とらふぐUsage16%
Hiragana spelling is also used, though katakana is more common for species names.
虎とら河豚ふぐ
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly seen in formal or specialized contexts; usually written in kana.

Kanji

虎

tiger, drunkard

河river

豚pork, pig

Similar words

ふぐ
Generic term for pufferfish or blowfish; トラフグ is a specific species.
河豚ふぐ
Kanji spelling for the generic term; 虎河豚 is the rare kanji form for this species.

Etymology

Compound of 虎 (tora, 'tiger') + 河豚 (fugu, 'pufferfish'), referring to the striped pattern resembling a tiger.