鯨

• Reading: くじら
• Romaji: kujira
• Kanji breakdown: 鯨 (kujira/gei) — whale; composed of 魚 (fish) + 京 (large, capital)
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.dʑi.ɾa/

Meaning

Whale. Any large marine mammal of the order Cetacea.

Often written in katakana as クジラ in modern Japanese. Japan has a long and complex history with whales, from traditional coastal whaling to modern controversies. Whale meat (鯨肉) was once a common school lunch item. The word appears in the expression 鯨飲 (heavy drinking — drinking like a whale).

Examples

1. 海でクジラを見るツアーに参加しました。 I joined a tour to see whales in the ocean.
2. 鯨は哺乳類で、魚ではありません。 Whales are mammals, not fish.
3. 昔の日本では鯨の肉をよく食べていました。 In the old days, people in Japan used to eat whale meat a lot.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, marine life, culture

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 鯨 combines 魚 (fish radical) and 京 (capital/large), signifying a fish-like creature of great size.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal