1.
queen bee
The single reproductive female of a bee colony, which lays the eggs and around which the hive is organized. Also used figuratively for a dominant woman at the center of a group.
巣には女王蜂が一匹いる。
There is one queen bee in the hive.
女王蜂は卵を産む役目を持つ。
The queen bee has the role of laying eggs.
女王蜂がいなくなると、巣全体が混乱する。
When the queen bee is gone, the whole hive falls into disorder.
The reproductive female that heads a bee colony. Formed from 女王 (queen) + 蜂 (bee), with rendaku turning はち into ばち.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 女王蜂が卵を産む: the queen bee lays eggs
- 女王蜂を中心にした群れ: a colony centered on the queen bee
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 働き蜂: worker bee — a non-reproductive female that gathers food and tends the hive