セミ

The quintessential sound of Japanese summer. Different species have distinctive calls.

Writing

Can be written as 蝉(せみ) in kanji, but セミ in katakana is more common in everyday use.

Types

• アブラゼミ (large brown cicada)
• ミンミンゼミ (min-min cicada)
• ヒグラシ (evening cicada)
• ツクツクボウシ (late summer cicada)

Common collocations

• セミが鳴(な)く (cicadas chirp)
• セミの抜(ぬ)け殻(がら) (cicada shell/exuviae)
• セミ取(と)り (cicada catching)

Cultural note

Cicada catching is a traditional summer activity for children. The cicada's short adult life is often used as a metaphor for the fleeting nature of existence.