蚜
plant louse, aphids
Strokes10
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
- ケ
Kun'yomi
- あぶらむし
Meaning
蚜 refers to small sap-sucking insects that infest plants: plant lice or aphids.
Study
Etymology
蚜 combines 虫 (insect) with 牙, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
An insect 虫 with tusk-like 牙 mouthparts piercing a plant stem: that is an aphid.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a car covered in aphids after parking under a tree: car -> カ, and the insects swarm the vehicle.