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鯨
“Whale” in Japanese is 鯨, read gei, kujira (げい, くじら). It is a Jōyō kanji taught in Japanese secondary school (junior & senior high) — the 高手 · Master tier beyond the grade 1–6 Kyōiku set, and appears in words such as 捕鯨 (whaling).
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What does 鯨 mean?
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Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 鯨 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Whale |
| Readings | げい, くじら |
| Grade | Master (高手 · secondary school) |
| Curriculum | Jōyō kanji · Japanese secondary school (JLPT N1–N2) |
| Example | 捕鯨 (whaling) |
How to read 鯨
鯨 is read gei (げい) or kujira (くじら) depending on the word.
Words with 鯨
- 捕鯨
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Kanji read the same way as 鯨
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Updated: 2026-08-28