蝸牛(かたつむり)

かたつむり
noun
snail
1. snail
A soft-bodied mollusk that carries a spiral shell on its back. Snails move slowly and are associated with rainy weather in Japan.
雨上(あめあ)がりに蝸牛(かたつむり)が出(で)てきた。
A snail came out after the rain stopped.
蝸牛(かたつむり)が葉(は)っぱの上(うえ)をゆっくり進(すす)んでいる。
A snail is slowly crawling on a leaf.
子供(こども)たちは蝸牛(かたつむり)の殻(から)に触(さわ)って遊(あそ)んでいた。
The children were playing by touching the snail's shell.
梅雨(つゆ)の時期(じき)になると、庭(にわ)のあちこちで蝸牛(かたつむり)を見(み)かける。
When the rainy season comes, I spot snails here and there in the garden.
蝸牛(かたつむり)は動(うご)きが遅(おそ)いけれど、時間(じかん)をかけて少(すこ)しずつ前(まえ)に進(すす)んでいく姿(すがた)がかわいい。
Snails move slowly, but their appearance as they gradually inch forward over time is cute.

蝸牛(かたつむり) refers to land snails (not sea snails).

Alternative forms:

  • カタツムリ (katakana, common in scientific contexts)
  • でんでん虫(むし) (colloquial/children's term)
  • 蝸牛(まいまい) (alternative reading, dialectal)

Common expressions:

Counter: 匹(ひき)

Cultural note:
The children's song 「でんでん虫(むし)むし蝸牛(かたつむり)」is famous in Japan. Snails are associated with the rainy season (梅雨(つゆ)) and are a symbol of early summer.

core
Added 2026.1.14 20:02 · Revised 2026.5.31 3:11
04000/04297_katatsumuri