1.
crocodile; alligator
A large semi-aquatic reptile with a long snout, powerful jaws, and a long tail. The Japanese word encompasses both crocodiles and alligators.
A crocodile approached while I was swimming in the river, so I fled in a hurry.
鰐 refers to both crocodiles and alligators. To distinguish them:
Common expressions
Counting patterns
Cultural note
In Japanese mythology, 鰐 sometimes appears as a sea creature (possibly referring to sharks in ancient texts). In the Kojiki, the deity Toyotama-hime transformed into a 鰐 during childbirth.