蝗
locust
Readings
On'yomi
- コウ
Kun'yomi
- いなご
- ばった
Meaning
蝗 centers on the insect locust, a type of grasshopper known for swarming and crop destruction.
Most common words using 蝗
- きちきち蝗虫きちきちばった
male Oriental longheaded locust (Acrida cinerea)
- 精霊飛蝗しょうりょうばった
Oriental longheaded locust (Acrida cinerea)
- 精霊飛蝗擬しょうりょうばったもどき
Gonista bicolor (species of grasshopper resembling the Oriental longheaded locust)
- 羽長蝗はねながいなご
rice grasshopper
- 菱蝗虫ひしばった
groundhopper (esp. species Tetrix japonica)
- 蝗害こうがい
locust plague; damage to crops by grasshoppers
- 蝗虫こうちゅう
rice grasshopper (of genus Oxya)
- 負飛蝗おんぶばった
smaller longheaded locust (Atractomorpha lata)
- 飛蝗ひこう
locust swarming; locust swarm; (swarming) locusts
Study
Etymology
蝗 combines 虫 (insect) with 皇, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a large or impressive insect, fitting the locust's swarming nature.
Meaning mnemonic
The insect radical 虫 beside 皇 (emperor) suggests the emperor of insects: a locust, ruling over fields with its swarms.
Reading mnemonic
For コウ, imagine a locust wearing a tiny crown, acting like a king: king -> コウ, the emperor insect.