1.
honeybee
A social flying insect that collects nectar from flowers to produce honey and wax. Vital for pollination of many crops and wild plants.
蜜蜂が花の蜜を集めている。
Honeybees are collecting nectar from flowers.
蜜蜂に刺されないように気をつけて。
Be careful not to get stung by a bee.
養蜂家が蜜蜂を飼って蜂蜜を作る。
Beekeepers raise honeybees to produce honey.
WORD FORMATION:
- 蜜 (honey/nectar) + 蜂 (bee) → 蜜蜂 (honeybee)
TYPES OF BEES IN JAPANESE:
- ニホン蜜蜂 (Japanese honeybee - native species)
- セイヨウ蜜蜂 (Western honeybee - commonly raised for honey)
- スズメバチ (hornet - dangerous, aggressive)
- アシナガバチ (paper wasp)
- クマバチ (carpenter bee)
RELATED TERMS:
- 蜂蜜 (honey)
- 巣箱 (beehive box)
- 養蜂 (beekeeping)
- 受粉 (pollination)
- 女王蜂 (queen bee)
- 働き蜂 (worker bee)
ECOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: 蜜蜂 are crucial pollinators for agriculture. Colony Collapse Disorder (蜂群崩壊症候群) is a growing environmental concern worldwide.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 蜜蜂に刺される (to be stung by a bee)
- 蜜蜂を飼う (to keep bees)