芋虫(いもむし)

いもむし
noun
caterpillar
animal-insect
1. caterpillar
A hairless, thick-bodied caterpillar, typically of a moth or butterfly. The word specifically refers to the plump, smooth type (not hairy caterpillars, which are called 毛虫). Originally named for caterpillars found on sweet potato plants.
葉(は)っぱに芋虫(いもむし)がいた。
There was a caterpillar on a leaf.
芋虫(いもむし)はやがて蝶(ちょう)になる。
A caterpillar eventually becomes a butterfly.
庭(にわ)のキャベツを見(み)たら、芋虫(いもむし)がたくさんついていた。
When I looked at the cabbages in the garden, there were a lot of caterpillars on them.

Usage

芋虫(いもむし) refers specifically to smooth, hairless caterpillars. Hairy caterpillars are called 毛虫(けむし). The name comes from 芋(いも) (sweet potato/taro) + 虫(むし) (insect), as these caterpillars were commonly found on potato plants.

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.2.27 16:54 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13965_imomushi