How to say "pike" in Japanese

• 矛ほこCommon
  nounThe weapon sense: a long-handled Chinese spear or lance. It is the common word of the four, and the natural choice when 'pike' means the polearm rather than the fish.
• パイク
  nounThe fish sense: the freshwater fish Esox, written in katakana as a loanword. The general term for the animal, and the choice when 'pike' means the fish rather than the weapon.
• かわかます
  nounAlso a fish name, but more specific: especially the Amur pike, Esox reichertii, and it also covers pickerel. Usually written in kana alone, and less common than パイク.
• 長槍ながやり
  nounAlso the weapon: literally a long spear, so it fits 'pike' as an especially long polearm. Less common than 矛, though the two overlap in rendering the weapon sense.

For the weapon, 矛 is the common word (a Chinese-style spear or lance), with 長槍 for a long spear; for the fish, 「パイク」 is the general term and 「かわかます」 names the Amur pike and pickerel, usually in kana.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 矛ほこlong-handled Chinese spear
• パイクpike (freshwater fish, Esox sp.)
• かわかますpike (esp. the Amur pike, Esox reichertii)
• 長槍ながやりlong spear