セミ
せみ
noun
cicada
1.
cicada
A flying insect known for the loud buzzing sound produced by males, strongly associated with summer in Japan.
セミが鳴いている。
The cicadas are chirping.
セミの声が夏を感じさせる。
The sound of cicadas makes me feel summer.
子供のころ、よくセミを捕まえに行った。
When I was a child, I often went to catch cicadas.
The quintessential sound of Japanese summer. Different species have distinctive calls.
KANJI ORTHOGRAPHY:
Can be written as 蝉 in kanji, but セミ in katakana is more common in everyday use.
COMMON SPECIES:
- 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:
- セミが鳴く (cicadas chirp)
- セミの抜け殻 (cicada shell/exuviae)
- セミ取り (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.