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Kotomora

蜈

centipede

Strokes13

Readings

On'yomi

  • ゴ

Kun'yomi

—

Meaning

蜈 refers to a centipede, a many-legged creeping insect.

Most common words using 蜈

  • 大蜈蚣おおむかで

    Scolopendra subspinipes (species of centipede)

  • 小蜈蚣こむかで

    symphylan (any centipede-like arthropod of class Symphyla)

  • 蜈蚣メリベむかでメリベ

    Melibe viridis (species of sea slug)

Explore all words using 蜈 →

Study

Etymology

蜈 combines 虫 (insect) with 吳, which likely contributes the sound ゴ. The exact historical development of the right component is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The insect radical 虫 on the left signals a creepy-crawly, and the right side 吳 looks like a tangle of legs. Picture a centipede with countless legs wriggling through the grass.

Reading mnemonic

For ゴ, imagine a centipede going "go, go, go!" as it scurries across the floor: go -> ゴ.