真珠貝

Japanese

Kanji in this term
真	珠	貝
しん Grade: 3	しゅ > じゅ Grade: S	かい > がい Grade: 1
on'yomi

Alternative spelling
眞珠貝 (kyūjitai)

Etymology

The Japanese akoya pearl oyster.

Compound of 真珠 (shinju, “pearl”) +‎ 貝 (kai, “shell, shellfish”). The kai changes to gai due to rendaku (連濁).

Noun

真(しん)珠(じゅ)貝(がい) • (shinjugai) 

1. pearl oyster
2. Synonym of 阿古屋貝 (akoya-gai, “Japanese akoya oyster”)

See also

• 牡蠣(かき) (kaki): oyster (edible)

References

• Kitahara, Yasuo, editor (2002), 明鏡国語辞典 [Meikyō Kokugo Jiten] (in Japanese), First edition, Tokyo: Taishūkan Shoten, →ISBN