1.
leech (blood-sucking worm)
A blood-sucking aquatic or terrestrial worm. In Japan, mountain leeches (ヤマビル) are commonly encountered during hiking in forested, humid areas.
Usually written in katakana as ヒル when referring to the animal. The kanji 蛭 exists but is rarely used in everyday writing. Mountain leeches (山蛭/ヤマビル) are a well-known hazard for hikers in Japan, particularly in warm, humid months.
Common collocations
- ヒルに吸われる: to be bitten (sucked) by a leech
- ヒル対策: leech countermeasures
- ヤマビル (山蛭): mountain leech — the most commonly encountered species in Japan
- ヒルが付く: a leech attaches
Cultural note
In areas of Japan where ヤマビル are common, trailheads sometimes have salt shakers or repellent available. Salt is the traditional method for removing a leech.
Similar words
- 蛭: leech (kanji form) — same word, less common spelling
- ヤマビル: mountain leech — the specific species hikers encounter