鯨(くじら)

くじら

noun

whale

1. whale

A large marine mammal that breathes air through blowholes. Whales have significant cultural and historical importance in Japan.

船(ふね)から鯨(くじら)が潮(しお)を吹(ふ)くのが見(み)えた。

We could see a whale spouting water from the boat.

鯨(くじら)は海(うみ)で最(もっと)も大(おお)きな動物(どうぶつ)だ。

Whales are the largest animals in the ocean.

子供(こども)の頃(ころ)は給食(きゅうしょく)に鯨(くじら)の肉(にく)が出(で)ることがあった。

When I was a child, whale meat was sometimes served in school lunches.

鯨(くじら) refers to whales in general.

Common expressions:

鯨(くじら)肉(にく) (whale meat)
鯨(くじら)油(あぶら) (whale oil)
捕鯨(ほげい) (whaling)
鯨(くじら)を飲(の)む (to swallow a whale - to do something impossible)

Types of whales:

シロナガス鯨(くじら) (blue whale)
ザトウ鯨(くじら) (humpback whale)
マッコウ鯨(くじら) (sperm whale)

Counter: 頭(とう)

Cultural note:
Whale meat has been consumed in Japan for centuries, and some coastal towns have whale festivals. However, international controversy over whaling has made this a sensitive topic. Many younger Japanese have never eaten whale meat.

general

Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.5.31 5:06

04000/04310_kujira