Translation guide
A small, blood-sucking fly known for its painful bite. In Japanese, the most common and useful term is ブユ (buyu), but several other names exist depending on region and context.
Referring to the biting midge as a type of insect, especially when talking about its bite or presence outdoors.
The most common and widely understood term for biting midge. Often written in katakana, but can also be written as 蚋 in kanji (rare).
キャンプ場でブユに刺された。
I got bitten by biting midges at the campsite.
When discussing the insect in entomology, biology, or formal writing.
The family name Simuliidae. Used in scientific classification.
ブユ科の昆虫は世界中に分布している。
Insects of the family Simuliidae are distributed worldwide.
The names ブユ, ブヨ, and ブト are all used for the same insect, but the preferred term varies by region. ブユ is the most standard and widely understood. If you're unsure, use ブユ.
Biting midges (ブユ) are not the same as mosquitoes (蚊/か). They are smaller and their bites can be more painful and itchy. Make sure to use the correct word to avoid confusion.
Biting midges are common near rivers.
A variant pronunciation/spelling of ブユ, also very common. Some regions or individuals prefer this form.
ブヨに刺されるとすごくかゆい。
When you get bitten by a biting midge, it's really itchy.
Another regional variant, used in some parts of Japan. Less common than ブユ/ブヨ but still recognized.
この辺りではブトって呼んでるよ。
Around here, we call them 'buto'.
The kanji for biting midge. Rarely used in everyday writing; mostly seen in scientific or literary contexts.
蚋はブユとも呼ばれる。
The kanji 蚋 is also read as ブユ.