ふくべ

Japanese

Etymology 1

Alternative spellings
瓢 瓠 匏

Multiple theories. Possibly from 吹(ふ)く (fuku, “to blow, burst”), or from 脹瓮 (fukurebe, “bulging (round) container”) or 脹腫実 (fukurameharemi “a swelling, tumor”). Alternately, perhaps from Korean 瓢 (pak), an archaic word for a container.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɸɯ̟kɯ̟be̞]

Noun

ふくべ, Lagenaria siceraria

ふくべ or フクベ • (fukube) 

1. Lagenaria siceraria, a gourd, calabash, bottle gourd

   Synonym: 瓢箪 (hyōtan)

2. dried fruit of a gourd plant used as a container, a drinking gourd

See also

• ユウガオ (yūgao, “winter melon, a type of gourd”)

Etymology 2

Likely from the resemblance to a gourd when the fish's abdomen is extended.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ɸɯ̟kɯ̟be̞]

Noun

ふくべ（河豚） Takifugu rubripes

ふくべ or フクベ • (fukube) 

1. (archaic) fugu, pufferfish

   Synonym: 河豚 (fugu)