1.
earthworm
A soft-bodied, segmented worm that lives in soil. Important for soil aeration and composting.
庭を掘ったら蚯蚓が出てきた。
Earthworms came out when I dug in the garden.
蚯蚓は土を肥やします。
Earthworms enrich the soil.
釣りの餌に蚯蚓を使います。
I use earthworms as fishing bait.
蚯蚓 is usually written in hiragana (みみず) in everyday usage, as the kanji is uncommon.
Ecological importance:
- Earthworms aerate soil and improve drainage
- They break down organic matter and create compost
- Their castings enrich soil nutrients
Common expressions:
- 蚯蚓腫れ (welt, linear swelling on skin - lit. "earthworm swelling")
Counter: 匹