How do you say "jellyfish" in Japanese?

クラゲ

kurage

Noun Katakana

In Japanese, "jellyfish" is クラゲ (kurage).

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Pronunciation

クラゲ is written using katakana. Romanised as kurage, it sounds roughly like "koo-rah-geh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Kurage uses katakana and combines two kanji-origin concepts. The word sounds like a gentle, flowing creature, fitting for jellyfish.

Example sentence

クラゲが草原を走っています。

Kurage ga sogen wo hashitte imasu.

A jellyfish is running across the field.

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How to remember クラゲ

Think of the floating, umbrella-like shape. Kura means storage; a jellyfish is like a living storage bell.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more beach words.

Questions about クラゲ

How do you pronounce クラゲ?

クラゲ is romanised as kurage. Say it roughly like "koo-rah-geh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is クラゲ formal or casual?

クラゲ is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is クラゲ written in Japanese?

クラゲ is written using katakana. Kurage uses katakana and combines two kanji-origin concepts.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Jellyfish" in other languages

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