海象

海象

1. walrus

海象 (seiuchi, kaizō): a walrus.

Borrowed from Russian сивуч (sivuč, “Steller sea lion”).[1][2][3][4][5]

The kanji are jukujikun (熟字訓), from Middle Chinese 海象. See kaizō below.

• (Irregular reading)
  • (Tokyo) セーウチ [sèéúchí] (Heiban – [0])[4][5]
  • IPA^(key): [se̞ːɯ̟ᵝt͡ɕi]

海象 (katakana セイウチ, rōmaji seiuchi)

1. a walrus

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts, as セイウチ. Not to be confused with 象海豹 (zō azarashi, “elephant seal”).

/kaizau/ → /kaizɔː/ → /kaizoː/

From Middle Chinese 海象 (xoj^X zjang^X, literally “sea elephant”). Compare Cantonese 海象 (hoi² zoeng⁶), Vietnamese hải tượng.

The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

• On’yomi: Goon
  • (Tokyo) かいぞー [kàízóó] (Heiban – [0])[4]
  • IPA^(key): [ka̠izo̞ː]

海象 (hiragana かいぞう, rōmaji kaizō, historical hiragana かいざう)

1. (rare) a walrus

This reading is much less common than seiuchi.

/kaiɕau/ → /kaiɕɔː/ → /kaiɕoː/

From Middle Chinese 海象 (xoj^X zjang^X, literally “sea + phenomenon”). Alternatively, may have been coined in Japan as a compound of Middle Chinese-derived roots.

The kan'on reading, so likely either a later borrowing, or a later innovation in Japan.

• On’yomi: Kan’on
  • (Tokyo) かいしょー [kàíshóó] (Heiban – [0])[4]
  • IPA^(key): [ka̠iɕo̞ː]

海象 (hiragana かいしょう, rōmaji kaishō, historical hiragana かいしやう)

1. a marine phenomenon