Translation guide
The common segmented worm that lives in soil. In Japanese, the standard word is ミミズ, but there are also scientific terms and a few idiomatic expressions.
ミミズ
earthworm (common)
Referring to the common earthworm as an animal, in everyday conversation or writing.
The standard, everyday word for earthworm. Can be written in kanji as 蚯蚓, but katakana is more common.
雨の後、ミミズがたくさん出てきた。
After the rain, a lot of earthworms came out.
子どもがミミズを触って喜んでいる。
The child is happily touching an earthworm.
Kanji form of ミミズ. Rarely used in everyday writing; mostly seen in formal or scientific contexts, or in literature.
蚯蚓は土壌改良に役立つ。
Earthworms are useful for soil improvement.
Referring to earthworms in a scientific, biological, or taxonomic context.
Scientific term for oligochaetes, the subclass that includes earthworms. Used in biology.
貧毛類にはミミズやイトミミズが含まれる。
Oligochaetes include earthworms and tubifex worms.
The phylum Annelida, which includes earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes. A broader taxonomic term.
ミミズは環形動物に分類される。
Earthworms are classified as annelids.
Using 'earthworm' in Japanese idioms or figurative phrases.
Describes messy, squiggly handwriting or lines, literally 'like an earthworm wriggled'. Often used self-deprecatingly about one's own writing.
彼の字はミミズののたくったような字だ。
His handwriting looks like an earthworm wriggled across the page.
Literally 'a thousand earthworms', an idiom for something utterly useless or insignificant. Rare.
そんな言い訳はミミズ千匹にもならない。
That excuse isn't worth a thing.
Although 蚯蚓 exists, ミミズ in katakana is overwhelmingly more common in modern Japanese. Using kanji may appear overly formal or old-fashioned.