(すいぞく)

すいぞく
noun
aquatic animals; marine life
1. aquatic animals; marine life
a collective term for animals that live in water, including fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and other aquatic creatures
水族(すいぞく)生態(せいたい)調(しら)べる。
To study the ecology of aquatic life.
水族(すいぞく)保護(ほご)重要(じゅうよう)課題(かだい)になっている。
The protection of marine life has become an important issue.
この海域(かいいき)には多種多様(たしゅたよう)水族(すいぞく)生息(せいそく)しており、研究者(けんきゅうしゃ)注目(ちゅうもく)(あつ)めている。
A wide variety of aquatic species inhabit these waters, attracting the attention of researchers.

Combines (すい) (water) and (ぞく) (group, family). Most commonly encountered in the compound 水族館(すいぞくかん) (aquarium). As a standalone word, it has a somewhat literary or scientific tone and refers broadly to aquatic animals.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 水族館(すいぞくかん): aquarium (the most frequent compound)
  • 水族(すいぞく)展示(てんじ): aquatic life exhibit
  • 水族(すいぞく)飼育(しいく): keeping of aquatic animals

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 海洋生物(かいようせいぶつ): marine organisms — a broader scientific term including plants and microorganisms
  • 魚類(ぎょるい): fish — specifically the class of fish
  • 水生動物(すいせいどうぶつ): aquatic animals — a more technical synonym