(ほたるが)

ほたるがり
noun
firefly viewing; firefly catching
1. firefly viewing; going out to enjoy or catch fireflies
The traditional summer pastime of going out on early-summer evenings to watch or catch fireflies near rivers and rice fields.
蛍狩(ほたるが)りに()く。
To go firefly viewing.
家族(かぞく)蛍狩(ほたるが)りを(たの)しんだ。
My family enjoyed firefly viewing together.
初夏(しょか)(よる)(かわ)のそばで蛍狩(ほたるが)りをするのが毎年(まいとし)(たの)しみだ。
Going firefly viewing by the river on early-summer evenings is my yearly delight.

Compound of (ほたる) (firefly) + ()り (hunting, gathering); the second element voices to がり. Despite the word 'hunting', it usually means simply going out to enjoy the sight of fireflies. A seasonal early-summer (初夏(しょか)) activity.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 蛍狩(ほたるが)りに()く: to go firefly viewing
  • 蛍狩(ほたるが)りを(たの)しむ: to enjoy firefly viewing

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 潮干狩(しおひが)り: shellfish gathering — uses the same 〜()り pattern for a seasonal outing