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Kotomora

蟬

cicada, continuous

StatusJinmeiyōStrokes18

Readings

On'yomi

  • セン
  • ゼン

Kun'yomi

  • せみ

Meaning

蟬 centers on the cicada insect, with the extended sense of continuous sound or activity coming from the cicada's long, unbroken buzzing.

Study

Etymology

蟬 combines 虫 (insect) with 單, which likely contributes the sound and may also suggest the idea of single or simple, though the exact historical connection to cicadas is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The insect radical 虫 beside 單 (which looks like a simple, single unit) can remind you of a cicada's simple, continuous drone.

Reading mnemonic

For セン, imagine a cicada sending out its continuous sound: send -> セン, and the insect sends its call through the summer air.