Japanese word

かに

Pronunciation

Romajikani

Meaning

  • nouncrab

Example

かにを食べます。ka ni o ta be ma su

I eat crab.

Illustration for かに (crab)

More examples

市場でかにを買いました。shi jō de ka ni o ka i ma shi ta

I bought crab at the market.

Core concept

Evokes a sideways-moving animal protected by a hard shell and equipped with claws.

Common phrases

  • かにを食べるka ni o ta be ru

    eat crab

  • かにを買うka ni o ka u

    buy crab

  • かに料理ka ni ryō ri

    crab dish

  • かにの身ka ni no mi

    crab meat

Definition in Japanese

海や川などにすむ、硬い甲羅と鋏を持つ食用にもなる節足動物。umi ya kawa na do ni su mu kata i kō ra to hasami o mo tsu shoku yō ni mo na ru ses soku dō butsu

Word origin

The word かに (kani) is native Japanese, with 蟹 (kani, "crab") used as its kanji spelling; no certain earlier source for the word is known.

Usage tips

  • In Japanese, かに (kani) is commonly used without a plural form, so the surrounding words or situation show whether one crab or more are meant.

Word lists with this word