虫
虫·insect
- On-yomi
- チュウ
- Kun-yomi
- むし
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Stroke order
Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.
Common words
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 虫 | むし | insect, bug |
| 昆虫 | こんちゅう | insect (technical term) |
| 虫歯 | むしば | cavity, tooth decay |
| 害虫 | がいちゅう | harmful insect, pest |
Example sentences
夏の夜は虫がたくさん飛んでくる。
なつのよるはむしがたくさんとんでくる。
On summer nights a lot of insects come flying in.
虫歯を治すために歯医者へ行った。
むしばをなおすためにはいしゃへいった。
I went to the dentist to have a cavity treated.
農薬で害虫を防いでいる。
のうやくでがいちゅうをふせいでいる。
Pesticides are used to keep the pests away.
Common mistakes
- Reading 虫歯 as ちゅうし — it is むしば
- 虫がいい ('selfish, self-serving') has nothing to do with insects
Memory aid
Picture it
A simple picture of a coiled grub with its head at the top — the base shape inside 蚊, 蜂, 蛇 and every other creepy-crawly.
Vocabulary using this kanji
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What does the kanji 虫 mean?