アオコ

noun

powdered green laver

Only when written 青粉

Dried and ground green seaweed (similar to aonori). The kanji 青粉 literally means 'blue/green powder'.

See also: 青のり

• 青あお粉こをふりかけて食たべると風ふう味みが増ます。

  Sprinkling powdered green laver on food enhances the flavor.

noun

blue-green algae; cyanobacteria

Refers to the microorganisms themselves, especially Microcystis. Usually written in katakana.

• アオコが発はっ生せいすると水みずが緑みどり色いろに濁にごる。

  When blue-green algae bloom, the water turns green and murky.

noun

algal bloom; water bloom

The phenomenon of excessive growth of algae or cyanobacteria in water bodies. Often used interchangeably with 水の華.

See also: 水の華

• 今年ことしの夏なつは湖みずうみで大だい規き模ぼなアオコが発はっ生せいした。

  This summer, a large-scale algal bloom occurred in the lake.