蝻
immature locusts
Strokes15
Readings
On'yomi
- ナン
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
蝻 refers specifically to immature locusts, the nymph stage before they develop wings.
Study
Etymology
蝻 combines the insect radical 虫 with 南, which likely provides the sound ナン. The character is used for a specific type of insect, the immature locust.
Meaning mnemonic
The insect radical 虫 on the left tells you it's a bug, and the right side 南 (south) can remind you of warm southern regions where locusts swarm. Picture a young, wingless locust hopping in a southern field.
Reading mnemonic
For ナン, imagine a young locust nymph munching on a nan bread in a southern field: nan -> ナン, and the insect is still immature.