noun
Standard modern term for the marine mammal Orcinus orca. Usually written in katakana.
水族館でシャチのショーを見た。
I saw an orca show at the aquarium.
シャチは海の頂点捕食者だ。
Orcas are apex predators of the sea.
noun
mythical tiger-headed carp
Abbreviation of しゃちほこ. A mythical creature with a tiger's head and a fish's body, believed to bring good fortune and protection. Rarely used outside the context of traditional architecture or folklore.
See also: 鯱 (しゃちほこ)
「しゃちほこ」の略称として「しゃち」と呼ぶことがある。
Sometimes called 'shachi' as an abbreviation of 'shachihoko'.
noun
roof ornament shaped like a shachi
Abbreviation of しゃちほこ. A decorative roof tile in the shape of the mythical shachi, traditionally placed on castle roofs to ward off fire. Often seen on Japanese castles like Nagoya Castle.
See also: 鯱 (しゃちほこ)
名古屋城の天守には金のしゃちが載っている。
Golden shachi ornaments sit atop the keep of Nagoya Castle.
The full, more common term for the mythical creature and roof ornament. しゃち is an abbreviation used mainly in compound words or casual reference.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 鯱 is a kokuji (Japanese-created character) combining 魚 (fish) and 虎 (tiger), reflecting the mythical creature's appearance. The reading 'shachi' may derive from the sound of the word or from an older term.