夏虫(なつむし)

なつむし
noun
summer insect; insect drawn to fire
natureidiom
1. summer insect; bugs that appear in summer
A general term for insects that are active during the summer months, such as beetles, cicadas, fireflies, and moths.
夏(なつ)になると夏虫(なつむし)が増(ふ)える。
Summer insects increase when summer comes.
子供(こども)たちは夏虫(なつむし)を捕(つか)まえて遊(あそ)んでいる。
The children are catching summer insects to play with.
窓(まど)を開(あ)けると夏虫(なつむし)が電灯(でんとう)に集(あつ)まってきて、部屋(へや)の中(なか)が大変(たいへん)なことになった。
When I opened the window, summer insects gathered around the light, and the room became a mess.
2. insect drawn to fire; moth drawn to a flame
An insect, typically a moth, that flies toward a light or flame and is burned. Used figuratively to describe someone who rushes headlong into danger or destruction.
夏虫(なつむし)が火(ひ)に飛(と)び込(こ)む。
A moth flies into the flame.
飛(と)んで火(ひ)に入(い)る夏(なつ)の虫(むし)のようなものだ。
It is like a moth flying into the fire.
彼(かれ)は夏虫(なつむし)のように危険(きけん)な投資(とうし)に手(て)を出(だ)してしまった。
Like a moth to a flame, he got involved in a dangerous investment.

A compound of 夏(なつ) (summer) and 虫(むし) (insect/bug). The word has both a literal meaning and a figurative one connected to the famous proverb.

Common collocations

Proverb

The expression 飛(と)んで火(ひ)に入(い)る夏(なつ)の虫(むし) (literally "a summer insect that flies into the fire") is a well-known Japanese proverb meaning to rush headlong into one's own destruction. It describes someone who brings disaster upon themselves by being drawn to something dangerous, like a moth to a flame.

Similar words

  • 蛾(が): moth (the specific insect most associated with being drawn to light)
  • 蝉(せみ): cicada (the iconic summer insect in Japan)
  • 虫(むし): insect; bug (general term)

Related Words

Compare: 蛾(が) (moth)
general
Added 2026.5.3 9:00 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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