亀
kame[ka̠me̞]
The Japanese word for turtle is 亀 (kame).
The word refers to a land or marine reptile with a shell.
Meaning: land or marine reptile with a shell (noun)
Which one should you use?
The kanji 亀 is used for general writing, but you may see the word written in katakana as カメ when appearing in scientific or biological contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
kame
When do people say it?
In Japanese culture, the turtle is a symbol of longevity and good fortune.
Did you know?
- Ancient Japanese people used the shells of 亀 for pyromancy, a form of divination where cracks formed by heat were read to predict the future.
- In Japanese folklore, the Minogame is a mythical turtle with a growth of algae on its shell that looks like a straw raincoat.
- The shape of the kanji 亀 is thought to mimic the actual physical structure of a turtle's shell and its body.
Examples in context
- 彼らは亀の研究に取り組んでいます。They are working on turtle research.
- 昨日公園でカメを見たよ！I saw a turtle at the park yesterday!
- 沖縄で海亀を見ることができますよ。You can see sea turtles in Okinawa.
- 公園に大きな亀がいます。Kōen ni ōkina kame ga imasu.There is a big turtle in the park.
- 亀は歩くのが遅いです。Kame wa aruku no ga osoi desu.Turtles are slow walkers.
- この亀はとてもかわいいです。Kono kame wa totemo kawaii desu.This turtle is very cute.
Example conversation
A young man and woman are visiting an aquarium.
- 大翔 Hirotoあ、あそこに亀がいますよ！A, asoko ni kame ga imasu yo!Oh, look, there is a turtle over there!
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ、大きな亀ですね。Hontō da, ōkina kame desu ne.You're right, it's a big turtle.
- 大翔 Hiroto美咲さんは亀が好きですか？Misaki-san wa kame ga suki desu ka?Misaki, do you like turtles?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、大好きです。Hai, daisuki desu.Yes, I love them.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turtle” translations and entries 亀, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
