クマバチ

くまばち
noun
carpenter bee
animal-insect
1. carpenter bee
A large, black, hairy bee that bores nest tunnels into wood. Despite its loud buzz and bulky body, it is docile and rarely stings. Also written 熊蜂(くまばち).
クマバチが飛(と)んでいる。
A carpenter bee is flying about.
クマバチは大(おお)きいが、おとなしい蜂(はち)だ。
Carpenter bees are big, but they are gentle bees.
クマバチは木(き)に穴(あな)を開(あ)けて巣(す)を作(つく)る。
Carpenter bees make their nests by boring holes into wood.

A large carpenter bee, named 熊(くま) (bear) + 蜂(はち) (bee) for its big, furry body. Often mistaken for a hornet because of its size and loud flight, but it is mild-tempered.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • スズメバチ: hornet — genuinely aggressive and dangerous, unlike the docile carpenter bee

Related Words

Compare: 雀蜂(すずめばち) (hornet)
Related: 蜜蜂(みつばち) (honeybee)
general
Added 2026.7.17 6:18 · Revised 2026.10.11 9:21
29500/29899_kumabachi