貝 類(かいるい)

かいるい

noun

shellfish; mollusks

1. shellfish; mollusks; shell-bearing animals

A general term for animals that have shells, including clams, oysters, snails, and other mollusks. Used both in everyday contexts (cooking, seafood) and scientific contexts (biology).

貝類(かいるい)のアレルギーがある。

I have a shellfish allergy.

この市場(いちば)では新鮮(しんせん)な貝類(かいるい)が手(て)に入(はい)る。

You can get fresh shellfish at this market.

干潟(ひがた)には様々(さまざま)な貝類(かいるい)が生息(せいそく)していて、潮干狩(しおひが)りの名所(めいしょ)になっている。

Various shellfish live in the tidal flats, making it a popular spot for clam digging.

Composed of 貝(かい) (shell, shellfish) + 類(るい) (kind, category). This is the general category term for all shell-bearing mollusks. In cooking and food contexts, it typically refers to edible shellfish like clams, oysters, and mussels.

Common collocations

貝類(かいるい)アレルギー: shellfish allergy
貝類(かいるい)の採取(さいしゅ): shellfish harvesting
二枚貝(にまいがい)類(るい): bivalves (clams, oysters, mussels)
巻(まき)貝類(かいるい): gastropods (snails, whelks)

Similar words

貝(かい): shell; shellfish — the basic word, can refer to both the animal and the shell
甲殻類(こうかくるい): crustaceans — crabs, shrimp, lobsters (different from shellfish)
魚介類(ぎょかいるい): seafood — the broader category including fish and shellfish

Related Words

Compare: 甲殻類(こうかくるい) (crustaceans)

Compare: 魚介類(ぎょかいるい) (seafood)

Compare: 二枚貝(にまいがい) (bivalve (shellfish))

Compare: 巻(ま)き貝(がい) (univalve)

Compare: 軟体動物(なんたいどうぶつ) (mollusk)

general

Added 2026.4.7 2:30 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

22500/22541_kairui