ハタ
hata
The Japanese word for grouper is ハタ (hata). Wiktionary also lists 羽太 (hata).
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ハタ | hata | |
| 羽太 | hata | [ha̠ta̠] (narrow) |
ハタ is a noun used to refer to the fish known as a grouper.
Which one should you use?
The word can be written in katakana as ハタ or in kanji as 羽太.
How do you pronounce it?
hata
Did you know?
- The kanji 羽 in 羽太 means 'feather' or 'wing'. This is highly unusual because Japanese names for fish almost always include the 'fish' radical 魚.
- The word ハタ is a homonym for the word 'flag' 旗. This phonetic overlap makes the fish a common subject for puns and wordplay in Japanese.
- While ハタ is the general term for grouper, the most prestigious variety is called クエ. This specific fish is treated as a luxury ingredient for winter hot pot dishes.
Examples in context
- 私は今晩、クエを食べたいです。I want to eat grouper tonight.
- このハタはとても新鮮です。Kono hata wa totemo shinsen desu.This grouper is very fresh.
- 今日の晩ご飯はハタの煮付けです。Kyou no bangohan wa hata no nikizuke desu.Today's dinner is simmered grouper.
- 市場で大きなハタを見つけました。Ichiba de ookina hata o mitsukemashita.I found a large grouper at the market.
Example conversation
A couple is discussing what to cook for dinner at a supermarket.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔さん、このハタはどうですか？Hiroto-san, kono hata wa dou desu ka?Hiroto, how about this grouper?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいですね。とても美味しそうです。Ii desu ne. Totemo oishisou desu.That's good. It looks delicious.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、これにしましょう。Jaa, kore ni shimashou.Then, let's go with this one.
- 大翔 Hiroto陽葵、カゴに入れてね。Himari, kago ni irete ne.Himari, please put it in the basket.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grouper” translations and entries ハタ, 羽太, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
