蝶(ちょう)

ちょう
noun
butterfly
colloquialanimal-insect
1. butterfly
A flying insect with large, often colorful wings. Butterflies are admired for their beauty and are often associated with transformation and impermanence in Japanese culture.
庭(にわ)に蝶(ちょう)がたくさん飛(と)んでいる。
Many butterflies are flying in the garden.
蝶(ちょう)が花(はな)から花(はな)へと舞(ま)っている。
A butterfly is fluttering from flower to flower.
舞(ま)う is often used for elegant, dancing flight
息子(むすこ)は蝶(ちょう)を追(お)いかけて公園(こうえん)を走(はし)り回(まわ)った。
My son ran around the park chasing butterflies.
春(はる)になると色(いろ)とりどりの蝶(ちょう)が花畑(はなばたけ)に集(あつ)まってくる。
When spring comes, colorful butterflies gather in the flower fields.
娘(むすめ)は蝶(ちょう)が大好(だいす)きで、図鑑(ずかん)を見(み)ながら種類(しゅるい)や名前(なまえ)を覚(おぼ)えている。
My daughter loves butterflies and is learning their types and names while looking at a picture book.

蝶(ちょう) refers to butterflies, distinguished from 蛾(が) (moths) primarily by their daytime activity and colorful wings.

Common expressions

  • 蝶々(ちょうちょう)/蝶々(ちょうちょ) (colloquial/childish term for butterfly)
  • 蝶(ちょう)のように舞(ま)う (to flutter like a butterfly)
  • 蝶(ちょう)ネクタイ (bow tie - literally "butterfly necktie")

Counter: 匹(ひき) or 頭(とう) (for specimens in research contexts)

Cultural note

Butterflies symbolize transformation, souls of the departed, and fleeting beauty in Japanese culture. The famous expression 胡蝶(こちょう)の夢(ゆめ) (Zhuangzi's butterfly dream) is well known in Japan.

Related Words

Compare: 蛾(が) (moth)
Related: 昆虫(こんちゅう) (insect (category))
core
Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.5.31 3:11
04000/04288_chou