貝
かい
shellfish
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
貝の料理が好きだ。
かいのりょうりがすきだ。
I like shellfish dishes.
海で貝を拾った。
うみでかいをひろった。
I picked up shells at the beach.
この貝は味噌汁に入れると美味しい。
このかいはみそしるにいれるとおいしい。
This shellfish is delicious in miso soup.
Common patterns
- 貝を拾う
- to gather shells
- 貝殻
- a seashell
- 二枚貝
- a bivalve
Memory tip
Shells were used as money in ancient China, which is why 貝 sits inside so many money-related kanji — 買 (buy), 貸 (lend), 財 (wealth). Spotting that radical is a real shortcut.
Kanji in this word
Quick check
1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5
What does 貝 mean?