(はむし)

はむし
noun
small winged insect; gnat; midge
1. small winged insect; gnat; midge
a general term for tiny flying insects such as gnats, midges, or small flies
夕方(ゆうがた)になると羽虫(はむし)()(まわ)る。
Small flying insects swarm around in the evening.
羽虫(はむし)部屋(へや)(はい)ってきた。
A gnat flew into the room.
(まど)()けたら羽虫(はむし)がたくさん(あつ)まってきて、すぐに()めた。
When I opened the window, a lot of gnats gathered, so I closed it right away.

A colloquial term for any small flying insect that is annoying but not necessarily identifiable by species. Includes gnats, midges, fruit flies, and other tiny winged bugs. Particularly common in warm, humid weather and around lights at night.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 羽虫(はむし)()ぶ: gnats fly around
  • 羽虫(はむし)(あつ)まる: gnats gather
  • 羽虫(はむし)()く: gnats breed / appear in numbers
  • (ちい)さな羽虫(はむし): tiny flying insects

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • コバエ: small fly, fruit fly — specifically refers to tiny flies found around fruit or garbage
  • ブヨ / ブユ: black fly — a specific biting insect found near rivers and mountains
  • (): mosquito — a specific blood-sucking insect, larger and more recognizable than 羽虫(はむし)