甲虫(こうちゅう)

こうちゅう
noun
beetle
1. beetle
An insect of the order Coleoptera, characterized by hardened forewings (elytra) that cover the hindwings. The largest order of insects.
カブトムシは甲虫(こうちゅう)の一種(いっしゅ)です。
The rhinoceros beetle is a type of beetle.
甲虫(こうちゅう)は硬(かた)い羽(はね)を持(も)っています。
Beetles have hard wing covers.
世界(せかい)には多(おお)くの種類(しゅるい)の甲虫(こうちゅう)がいます。
There are many species of beetles in the world.

甲虫(こうちゅう) is the scientific/general term for beetles (order Coleoptera), the largest order of insects with over 350,000 known species.

ETYMOLOGY:
甲(こう) (shell, armor) + 虫(ちゅう) (insect) — referring to their characteristic hard wing covers (鞘翅(しょうし)).

COMMON BEETLES IN JAPAN:

  • カブトムシ: rhinoceros beetle (very popular pet for children)
  • クワガタムシ: stag beetle
  • テントウムシ: ladybug
  • コガネムシ: scarab beetle
  • ゲンゴロウ: diving beetle

USAGE:
甲虫(こうちゅう) is a somewhat technical term. In everyday speech, people refer to specific beetles by name (カブトムシ, クワガタ, etc.) rather than using the general category. The word appears more often in scientific writing, nature documentaries, and insect collecting (昆虫(こんちゅう)採集(さいしゅう)) contexts.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 昆虫(こんちゅう): insect (general term)
  • 虫(むし): bug (colloquial)

Related Words

Related: 昆虫(こんちゅう) (insect (general term))
general
Added 2026.1.14 22:31 · Revised 2026.4.13 11:39
04500/04929_kouchuu