蛍(ほたる)

ほたる

noun

firefly, lightning bug

1. firefly

A beetle that produces light from its abdomen.

夏(なつ)に蛍(ほたる)を見(み)に行(い)った。

I went to see fireflies in summer.

蛍(ほたる)が光(ひか)っている。

Fireflies are glowing.

川(かわ)の近(ちか)くで蛍(ほたる)がたくさん飛(と)んでいた。

Many fireflies were flying near the river.

蛍(ほたる) refers to fireflies, a beloved symbol of early summer in Japan.

Writing

蛍(ほたる) - firefly (insect radical 虫); on-reading けい

Cultural traditions

蛍狩(ほたるが)り: firefly viewing (traditional summer activity)
蛍(ほたる)の光(ひかり): 'Auld Lang Syne' (graduation song)

Japanese species

源氏蛍(げんじぼたる): Genji firefly (larger, brighter)
平家蛍(へいけぼたる): Heike firefly (smaller)

Symbolism

Summer season
Fleeting beauty (はかなさ)
Nostalgia

Verbs

蛍(ほたる)が光(ひか)る: fireflies glow/flash

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:30 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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