mackerel tuna; little tuna; kawakawa
A species of tuna (Euthynnus affinis) found in warm waters. In Japanese, often encountered in fishing or culinary contexts.
The mackerel tuna is a small tuna often caught near the coast.
This sashimi uses mackerel tuna.
I caught a mackerel tuna in the waters off Okinawa.
カツオ (skipjack tuna) looks and tastes similar to スマ and is used in similar dishes, but it is a distinct species with a stronger flavor.
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling is also used, though katakana is more common for fish names.
Rare kanji form; it is rarely used.
Rare kanji form using the old form of 万; it is rarely used.
The origin of the name スマ is uncertain. It may be a local or fishermen's term that became standardized. The kanji 須万 and 須萬 are ateji (phonetic equivalents) and are rarely used.