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.
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.
After the rain, a lot of earthworms came out.
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.
Earthworms are useful for soil improvement.
Referring to earthworms in a scientific, biological, or taxonomic context.
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.
His handwriting looks like an earthworm wriggled across the page.
Literally 'a thousand earthworms', an idiom for something utterly useless or insignificant. Rare.
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.
The phylum Annelida, which includes earthworms, leeches, and polychaetes. A broader taxonomic term.
Earthworms are classified as annelids.