昆虫(こんちゅう)

こんちゅう
noun
insect
1. insect, bug
A small invertebrate animal with six legs and typically one or two pairs of wings, such as beetles, butterflies, and ants.
子供(こども)は昆虫(こんちゅう)が大好(だいす)きだ。
Children love insects.
夏(なつ)は昆虫(こんちゅう)がたくさんいる。
There are lots of insects in summer.
昆虫(こんちゅう)図鑑(ずかん)で調(しら)べる。
Look it up in an insect encyclopedia.
日本(にほん)には多(おお)くの種類(しゅるい)の昆虫(こんちゅう)がいて、季節(きせつ)ごとに違(ちが)う昆虫(こんちゅう)が見(み)られます。
Japan has many species of insects, and different insects can be seen in each season.
息子(むすこ)は昆虫(こんちゅう)に興味(きょうみ)があって、休(やす)みの日(ひ)には公園(こうえん)で昆虫(こんちゅう)を探(さが)すのが好(す)きです。
My son is interested in insects and likes to look for them in the park on his days off.

Japan has a rich tradition of appreciating insects, including keeping them as pets and listening to their sounds.

Major insect groups:

  • 甲虫(こうちゅう) (beetles) - カブトムシ, クワガタ
  • 蝶(ちょう) (butterflies)
  • 蛾(が) (moths)
  • 蜂(はち) (bees, wasps)
  • 蟻(あり) (ants)
  • 蝉(せみ) (cicadas)
  • トンボ (dragonflies)
  • バッタ (grasshoppers)

昆虫採集(こんちゅうさいしゅう) (insect collecting) is a popular summer activity for children.

Cultural notes:

  • 虫(むし)の音(ね) (insect sounds) - appreciated in autumn
  • 鈴虫(すずむし) (bell crickets) kept for their song
  • カブトムシ and クワガタ are prized pets

Counter: 一匹(いっぴき), 二匹(にひき)...

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Added 2026.1.14 21:56 · Revised 2026.3.7 12:52
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