also: がんぎえい
skate (Rajidae spp., esp. Kwangtung skate, Dipturus kwangtungensis)
A type of cartilaginous fish; the name typically refers to the Kwangtung skate in Japanese contexts.
I saw a skate at the aquarium.
The skate is a type of ray.
General term for rays; ガンギエイ is a specific species of skate within the ray family.
Another common name for skates, often used in culinary contexts; ガンギエイ is more formal/scientific.
Hiragana spelling, also used but less common than katakana for this species name.
Rarely used kanji form; 鱝 is a non-jōyō character for rays and skates.
Rarely used kanji form; 鱏 is a non-jōyō character for rays and skates.
The name likely derives from the skate's resemblance to a 雁木 (gangi, a type of zigzag pattern or stepped pier), but the exact origin is uncertain.