すっぽん

noun

Chinese soft-shelled turtle; soft-shelled turtle

Refers to the animal, especially Pelodiscus sinensis, commonly eaten in Japan. Often used in the dish すっぽん鍋.

• すっぽんは高こう級きゅう食しょく材ざいとして知しられている。

  Soft-shelled turtles are known as a high-class ingredient.

• 冬ふゆになるとすっぽん鍋なべが食たべたくなる。

  When winter comes, I crave soft-shelled turtle hot pot.

noun

trap door on kabuki walkway

Only with reading すっぽん

Specialized kabuki term; a trap door located on the hanamichi (walkway) used for dramatic entrances and exits.

• 歌か舞ぶ伎きでは、すっぽんから役やく者しゃがせり上あがってくる。

  In kabuki, actors rise up through the trap door on the walkway.

noun

bilge pump (traditional Japanese ship)

Only with reading すっぽん

Historical nautical term; a type of pump used on traditional Japanese vessels to remove bilge water.

• 和わ船せんでは、すっぽんを使つかって船せん底ていの水みずを汲くみ出だした。

  On traditional Japanese ships, they used a bilge pump to bail water from the bottom.