虫 眼 鏡(むしめがね)

むしめがね

noun

magnifying glass

1. magnifying glass

A convex lens used to magnify small objects for easier viewing.

虫眼鏡(むしめがね)で小(ちい)さい字(じ)を読(よ)む。

To read small letters with a magnifying glass.

虫眼鏡(むしめがね)で虫(むし)を見(み)る。

To look at insects with a magnifying glass.

虫眼鏡(むしめがね)で昆虫(こんちゅう)を観察(かんさつ)する。

To observe insects with a magnifying glass.

探偵(たんてい)が虫眼鏡(むしめがね)で証拠(しょうこ)を調(しら)べる。

The detective examines evidence with a magnifying glass.

子供(こども)のころ、虫眼鏡(むしめがね)で太陽(たいよう)の光(ひかり)を集(あつ)めて遊(あそ)んだことがある。

When I was a child, I once played by focusing sunlight with a magnifying glass.

虫眼鏡(むしめがね) literally means "insect-viewing glasses," reflecting its traditional use for observing small insects and nature.

ALTERNATE TERMS:

ルーペ: loupe (from German), often used in professional contexts
拡大鏡(かくだいきょう): magnifier (formal/technical term)

CULTURAL NOTE:
The 虫眼鏡(むしめがね) is a classic tool associated with childhood nature exploration in Japan, often used in school science activities. It's also the stereotypical accessory of detectives in Japanese media, similar to the Western Sherlock Holmes image.

core

Added 2026.1.16 17:17 · Revised 2026.6.16 3:53

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