noun
Refers to the sharp, curved nails of animals such as birds of prey, cats, or dragons. Often used in fantasy or biological contexts.
See also: 扁爪
ワシは鉤爪で獲物をしっかりと掴んだ。
The eagle firmly grasped its prey with its talons.
猫が
The cat extended its claws and scratched the carpet.
Mixed kanji-katakana spelling, sometimes used for clarity or emphasis.
Variant kanji for 鉤; less common but still encountered.
扁爪 refers to flat nails (like human fingernails), while 鉤爪 refers to curved, sharp claws or talons.
Compound of 鉤 (kagi, 'hook') and 爪 (tsume, 'nail; claw'), with rendaku voicing of つめ to づめ.