烏賊(いか)

いか
noun
squid
1. squid
A marine cephalopod with ten arms, two of which are longer tentacles. Squid is a popular food in Japan.
居酒屋(いざかや)で烏賊(いか)の刺身(さしみ)を注文(ちゅうもん)した。
I ordered squid sashimi at the izakaya.
烏賊(いか)はスミを吐(は)いて敵(てき)から逃(に)げる。
Squid squirt ink to escape from enemies.
夏祭(なつまつ)りで烏賊焼(いかや)きを食(た)べた。
I ate grilled squid at the summer festival.

烏賊(いか) refers to squid. The kanji literally means "crow thief" (from an old legend).

Alternative writing: イカ (katakana, very common)

Common dishes:

  • 烏賊(いか)の刺身(さしみ) (squid sashimi)
  • 烏賊焼(いかや)き (grilled squid)
  • 烏賊(いか)そうめん (squid cut into thin noodle-like strips)
  • 烏賊(いか)フライ (fried squid)
  • 烏賊(いか)墨(すみ)パスタ (squid ink pasta)

Counter: 杯(はい) (whole squid) or 匹(ひき)

Note:
烏賊(いか) is distinct from 蛸(たこ) (octopus). Squid have 10 arms while octopuses have 8. The expression 烏賊(いか)墨(すみ) (squid ink) is used in cooking.

Related Words

Related: 蛸(たこ)
general
Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.1.19 21:14
04000/04319_ika