General term for rays and skates (superorder Batoidea). Usually written in katakana as エイ.
I saw a big ray at the aquarium.
Rays live on the ocean floor.
エイ (rays) and サメ (sharks) are both cartilaginous fish that learners often lump together, but エイ have flattened bodies and gill slits on their underside while サメ have torpedo-shaped bodies and lateral gill slits.
As a fish, 鱝 (えい, ray) is naturally counted with 尾 (び).
Katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Hiragana spelling, also common.
Rare kanji form; not in common use.
Rare kanji form; not in common use.
Rare kanji form; not in common use.
The origin is uncertain. The word is native Japanese, and the kanji forms are rare and not etymologically transparent.