TYJ Invertebrates in Japanese

8.8. Invertebrates

8.8.1. Molluscs

All of the molluscs listed here except snails are edible. (Escargots are not so popular in Japan.)

たこ
ta ko
octopus

いか
i ka
squid

はまぐり
ha ma gu ri
clam

あさり
a sa ri
short-necked clam

For your interest: This is the most popular shellfish in Japan.

しじみ
si zi mi
corbicula

For your interest: Corbicula are small shellfish often used for miso soup.

ほたて
ho ta te
scallop

かき
ka ki
oyster

Note: This word has a different accent from persimmon.

The five words above are all かい /ka' i/ "kai" (shellfish).

かたつむり
ka ta tu mu ri
snail

8.8.2. Crustaceans

かに
ka ni
crab

えび
e bi
shrimp, lobster

8.8.3. Insects

Japanese has many words for むし "musi" (insect) because an insect's sound is as evaluated as a bird's song. There are not always good English translations.

かぶとむし
ka bu to mu si
beetle (found in forests)

Note: This word is used only for beetles with a big horn found in forests. It is the combination of かぶと "kabuto" (warrior's helm) and むし "musi" (insect). The English word beetle has a much wider meaning.

くわがた
ku wa ga ta
stag beetle

For your interest: かぶとむし "kabutomusi" and くわがた "kuwagata" are so evaluated as pets in Japan that one beetle can cost 50,000 yen.

こおろぎ
kô ro gi
cricket

きりぎりす
ki ri gi ri su
a kind of grasshopper

せみ
se mi
cicada

For your interest: Cicadas are very common in the summer in Japan. There are many kinds of cicada such as あぶらぜみ "aburazemi", みんみんぜみ "minminzemi", ひぐらし "higurasi", and つくつくぼうし "tukutukubôsi". Most Japanese people can distinguish them by hearing their sound.

ちょう
tyô
butterfly

Note: The word ちょうちょ "tyôtyo" also means butterfly. It is better when you want to avoid confusion with the word for intestines.

が
ga
moth

とんぼ
to n bo
dragonfly

あり
a ri
ant

はえ
ha e
fly

か
ka
mosquito