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.
すっぽんは高級食材として知られている。
Soft-shelled turtles are known as a high-class ingredient.
冬になるとすっぽん鍋が食べたくなる
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.
歌舞伎では、すっぽんから役者がせり上がってくる。
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.
和船では、すっぽんを使って船底の水を汲み出した。
On traditional Japanese ships, they used a bilge pump to bail water from the bottom.
Rare kanji form; not in common use.
The origin is uncertain. The reading すっぽん may be mimetic or derived from the sound of the turtle diving into water. The kanji 鼈 is a Chinese character for soft-shelled turtle.