Chinese

海狸

Noun

海狸

1. beaver

Synonyms

• 河狸

Japanese

海狸 (kairi, umidanuki): a beaver.

Etymology 1

Probably coined in Japan of Middle Chinese-derived elements.

The beaver is not native to Asia, so this word would have been coined (or repurposed) relatively recently.

Pronunciation

• On'yomi
• (Tokyo) か​いり [káꜜìrì] (Atamadaka - [1])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [ka̠iɾi]

Noun

海狸 ‎(hiragana かいり, romaji kairi)

1. (rare) alternate term for ビーバー ‎(bībā): a beaver

Usage notes

The term ビーバー ‎(bībā) is used more commonly.

Etymology 2

Compound of 海 ‎(umi, “sea, ocean”) +‎ 狸 ‎(tanuki, “tanuki or raccoon dog”). The tanuki changes to danuki as an instance of rendaku (連濁). ^[2]

Pronunciation

• Kun'yomi
• (Tokyo) うみだ​ぬき [ùmídáꜜnùkì] (Nakadaka - [3])^[1]
• IPA^(key): [ɯᵝmidã̠nɯᵝkʲi]

Noun

海狸 ‎(hiragana うみだぬき, romaji umidanuki)

1. (rare) alternate term for ビーバー ‎(bībā): a beaver

Usage notes

The term ビーバー ‎(bībā) is used more commonly.

References

1. 1 2 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, ISBN 4-385-13905-9
2. ↑ 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan

Vietnamese

Noun

海狸

1. Hán tự form of hải ly, “beaver”