蜱
tick, mite
Readings
On'yomi
- ヒ
- ヒョウ
Kun'yomi
- だに
Meaning
蜱 centers on small parasitic arachnids: ticks and mites. Both meanings refer to tiny blood-feeding or skin-burrowing creatures.
Most common words using 蜱
- 埃蜱ほこりだに
white mite (Tarsonemidae spp.); thread-footed mite
- 塵蜱ちりだに
house dust mite (Dermatophagoides spp.)
- 大和真蜱やまとまだに
Ixodes ovatus (species of tick)
- 宝蜱たからだに
erythaeid mite (Erythraeoidea spp.)
- 毛長粉蜱けながこなだに
mould mite (Tyrophagus putrescentiae); cheese mite
- 砂糖蜱さとうだに
prune mite (Carpoglyphus lactis); sugar mite
- 簓蜱ささらだに
moss mite (Oribatida spp.); box mite; beetle mite; oribatid mite
- 鶏蜱わくも
chicken mite (Dermanyssus gallinae)
Study
Etymology
蜱 combines 虫 (insect) with 卑, which likely contributes the sound. The character is used for ticks and mites, small creatures classified with insects in traditional Chinese taxonomy.
Meaning mnemonic
The insect radical 虫 on the left hints at a small creature, and the right side 卑 looks like a lowly, clinging shape. Picture a tick or mite as a lowly insect that clings to skin.
Reading mnemonic
For ヒ, imagine a tick making a tiny high-pitched 'hee' sound as it bites: hee -> ヒ, and the insect radical 虫 reminds you it's a bug.