Japanese word

水族館

Pronunciation

Romajisuizokukan

Meaning

  • nounaquarium

Example

水族館に行きます。sui zoku kan ni i ki ma su

I go to the aquarium.

Illustration for 水族館 (aquarium)

More examples

家族と水族館へ行きます。ka zoku to sui zoku kan e i ki ma su

I go to the aquarium with my family.

新しい水族館が駅の近くにできました。atara shi i sui zoku kan ga eki no chika ku ni de ki ma shi ta

A new aquarium opened near the station.

Core concept

Refers to a facility that brings aquatic animals into view through carefully maintained tanks and exhibits.

Common phrases

  • 水族館で働くsui zoku kan de hatara ku

    work at an aquarium

  • 水族館の展示sui zoku kan no ten ji

    aquarium exhibits

Similar words

水族園suizokuen: A facility that presents aquatic life in indoor tanks and carefully designed outdoor settings.

Definition in Japanese

魚類などの水中の生物を飼育して見せる施設。gyo rui na do no sui chū no sei butsu o shi iku shi te mi se ru shi setsu

Word origin

The Japanese compound 水族館 (suizokukan) combines 水 (sui, "water") and 族 (zoku, "group") to form 水族 (suizoku, "aquatic animals"), with 館 (kan, "building") adding the sense of a facility.

Usage tips

  • English speakers commonly associate aquarium with both public exhibits and home fish tanks, but 水族館 (suizokukan) names the public exhibit facility.

Related words

  • 水族館員suizokukaninaquarium staff membernoun

Word lists with this word