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Kotomora

蚕

silkworm

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 6FrequencyTop 5,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • サン
  • テン

Kun'yomi

  • かいこ
  • こ

Meaning

蚕 centers on the silkworm, the insect cultivated for silk production.

Most common words using 蚕

20 of 43
  • 蚕かいこ

    silkworm (Bombyx mori)

  • 養蚕ようさん

    sericulture; silkworm culture; silkworm raising

  • 沙蚕ごかい

    ragworm; sandworm; clam worm (Hediste)

  • 蚕糸さんし

    silk thread; silk yarn

  • えり蚕えりさん

    eri silkmoth (Samia cynthia ricini); eri silkworm

  • 三眠蚕さんみんかいこ

    three-molt silkworm

  • 与那国蚕よなぐにさん

    atlas moth (Attacus atlas)

  • 夏蚕なつご

    summer silkworms

  • 天蚕糸てぐす

    silkworm gut; catgut

  • 家蚕かさん

    domesticated silkworm

  • 日本野蚕学会にっぽんくわごがっかい

    Japanese Society for Wild Silkmoths

  • 昔沙蚕むかしごかい

    archiannelids of the genus Saccocirrus (esp. Saccocirrus major)

  • 春蚕はるご

    spring breed of silkworm

  • 柞蚕さくさん

    Chinese oak silkmoth (Antheraea pernyi); Chinese oak silkworm; Chinese oak tussar moth

  • 桑蚕くわこ

    wild silkworm moth (Bombyx mandarina)

  • 毛蚕けご

    silkworm (in the first or second instar)

  • 玉敷沙蚕たましきごかい

    Arenicola brasiliensis (species of lugworm)

  • 神樹蚕しんじゅさん

    ailanthus silkmoth (Samia cynthia); cynthia moth

  • 秋蚕しゅうさん

    autumn silkworms; fall silkworms

  • 綿草石蚕わたちょろぎ

    lamb's-ear (Stachys byzantina)

Explore all words using 蚕 →

Study

Etymology

蚕 combines 天 (heaven) and 虫 (insect), likely reflecting the silkworm's economic importance as a 'heavenly insect' in ancient China.

Meaning mnemonic

The top 天 (heaven) and bottom 虫 (insect) together suggest a special insect from heaven: the silkworm.

Reading mnemonic

For サン, imagine the sun (サン) shining down on the heavenly silkworm, helping it spin silk.