貝殻(かいがら)

かいがら
noun
seashell, shell
1. seashell, shell
The hard outer covering of a shellfish or mollusk. Often found on beaches and collected as souvenirs or decorations.
貝殻(かいがら)を集(あつ)める。
To collect seashells.
海岸(かいがん)できれいな貝殻(かいがら)を見(み)つけた。
I found a beautiful seashell on the beach.
子(こ)どもたちが貝殻(かいがら)を拾(ひろ)って遊(あそ)んでいる。
The children are playing picking up seashells.

貝殻(かいがら) is the hard outer covering left behind by mollusks and other shellfish. Seashells washed up on beaches are a common sight in Japan, and 貝殻(かいがら)拾(ひろ)い (shell collecting) is a popular seaside activity for children and adults alike.

STRUCTURE:

  • 貝(かい) (shellfish) + 殻(がら) (shell, husk)

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 貝殻(かいがら)を拾(ひろ)う (to pick up seashells)
  • 貝殻(かいがら)を集(あつ)める (to collect seashells)
  • 貝殻(かいがら)の形(かたち) (the shape of a shell)
  • 貝殻(かいがら)で飾(かざ)る (to decorate with seashells)

RELATED WORDS:

  • 貝(かい) (shellfish — the living animal)
  • 殻(から) (shell, husk — general term; read から when standalone)
  • 巻(ま)き貝(がい) (snail shell, spiral shell)
  • 二枚貝(にまいがい) (bivalve)
general
Added 2026.3.25 23:52
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