鱗粉(りんぷん)

りんぷん
noun
wing scales (of butterflies/moths)
academicanimal-insect
1. wing scales; scale powder
The tiny, flat, overlapping structures that cover the wings of butterflies and moths (Lepidoptera). These scales create wing patterns and colors, and feel like fine powder when touched.
蝶(ちょう)の羽(はね)には鱗粉(りんぷん)がある。
Butterfly wings have scales.
鱗粉(りんぷん)に触(さわ)ると指(ゆび)に粉(こな)がつく。
If you touch the wing scales, powder sticks to your fingers.
顕微鏡(けんびきょう)で見(み)ると、鱗粉(りんぷん)の一枚一枚(いちまいいちまい)が美(うつく)しい模様(もよう)を作(つく)っている。
Under a microscope, each individual scale creates a beautiful pattern.

From 鱗(うろこ) (scale) + 粉(こな) (powder): each scale is so small that the scales rub off on the fingers like dust. The order of butterflies and moths is 鱗翅目(りんしもく), the "scale-winged" insects.

Common collocations

general
Added 2026.3.21 18:59 · Revised 2026.10.7 22:41
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