蚕
silkworm
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)
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.