毛虫(けむし)

けむし
noun
caterpillar
animal-insect
1. caterpillar, hairy caterpillar
The larval stage of moths and butterflies, especially those covered with hair or bristles. Some species can cause skin irritation.
木(き)の葉(は)に毛虫(けむし)がいました。
There was a caterpillar on the tree leaves.
毛虫(けむし)に触(さわ)ると痒(かゆ)くなることがあります。
Touching caterpillars can sometimes make you itchy.
毛虫(けむし)は蝶(ちょう)か蛾(が)になります。
Caterpillars turn into butterflies or moths.
春(はる)になると毛虫(けむし)が多(おお)くなる。
Caterpillars become more common in spring.
子(こ)どもが毛虫(けむし)を見(み)つけて怖(こわ)がっていた。
The child found a caterpillar and was scared.

毛(け) (hair) + 虫(むし) (bug): a hairy caterpillar. A smooth caterpillar is an 芋虫(いもむし).

Watch out

  • Some 毛虫(けむし) have stinging hairs that cause itchy rashes; the tea tussock moth caterpillar (茶毒蛾(ちゃどくが)) on camellia and sasanqua is the best known in Japan.

Counting patterns

core
Added 2026.1.14 22:31 · Revised 2026.9.28 22:10
04500/04933_kemushi