蛹(さなぎ)

さなぎ

noun

pupa; chrysalis

1. pupa; chrysalis; cocoon stage

The intermediate stage in the life cycle of insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, between the larval and adult stages. The insect is encased in a protective covering while it transforms.

幼虫(ようちゅう)が蛹(さなぎ)になる。

The larva becomes a pupa.

蛹(さなぎ)の中(なか)で体(からだ)が作(つく)り変(か)えられている。

Inside the pupa, the body is being rebuilt.

蛹(さなぎ)から美(うつく)しい蝶(ちょう)が羽化(うか)する様子(ようす)を子供(こども)たちが観察(かんさつ)していた。

The children were observing how a beautiful butterfly emerges from its chrysalis.

The pupal stage of insects with complete metamorphosis (完全変態(かんぜんへんたい)). During this stage, the insect's body is broken down and rebuilt into its adult form. The kanji uses the 虫(むし) radical.

Related words

卵(たまご): egg
幼虫(ようちゅう): larva (caterpillar, grub, etc.)
蛹(さなぎ): pupa (chrysalis, cocoon stage)
成虫(せいちゅう): adult insect (imago)
繭(まゆ): cocoon — the silk casing spun by silkworms and some moth larvae; not all pupae form cocoons
羽化(うか): eclosion, emergence — the process of an adult insect emerging from the pupa

Common collocations

蛹(さなぎ)になる: to pupate, to enter the pupal stage
蛹(さなぎ)から羽化(うか)する: to emerge (as an adult insect) from the pupa
蛹(さなぎ)の期間(きかん): pupal period

Related Words

Related: 繭(まゆ) (cocoon)

Related: 羽化(うか) (eclosion, emergence)

Related: 卵(たまご) (egg)

Related: 幼虫(ようちゅう) (larva)

Related: 成虫(せいちゅう) (adult insect)

general

Added 2026.4.1 23:16 · Revised 2026.10.7 15:25

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