鯨
鯨·whale
- On-yomi
- げい
- Kun-yomi
- くじら
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 鯨 | くじら | whale |
| 捕鯨 | ほげい | whaling |
| 鯨肉 | げいにく | whale meat |
| 鯨油 | げいゆ | whale oil |
Example sentences
船から鯨の群れが見えた。
ふねからくじらのむれがみえた。
We saw a pod of whales from the ship.
捕鯨をめぐる議論が続いている。
ほげいをめぐるぎろんがつづいている。
The debate over whaling continues.
Similar-looking kanji
Do not confuse these on the exam.
- 鯨鯉鯉 (こい, carp) shares the fish radical 魚; it is the right-hand part that tells them apart.
Common mistakes
- 捕鯨 is ほげい, using the on-reading げい, while the animal on its own is くじら.
- The name is often written in katakana as クジラ in newspapers and science writing.
Memory aid
Picture it
Fish 魚 beside 京 (the capital, something vast): the giant among the creatures of the sea.
Vocabulary using this kanji
Quick check
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What does the kanji 鯨 mean?