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Kotomora

蚣

centipede, grasshopper

Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • コウ
  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

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Meaning

蚣 centers on long, many-legged crawling creatures: centipedes and grasshoppers. The two meanings are linked by the shared insect-like body plan and movement.

Most common words using 蚣

  • 大蜈蚣おおむかで

    Scolopendra subspinipes (species of centipede)

  • 小蜈蚣こむかで

    symphylan (any centipede-like arthropod of class Symphyla)

  • 蜈蚣メリベむかでメリベ

    Melibe viridis (species of sea slug)

Explore all words using 蚣 →

Study

Etymology

蚣 combines 虫 (insect) with 公, which likely contributes the sound. The character is used for specific arthropods like centipedes and grasshoppers.

Meaning mnemonic

The insect radical 虫 on the left pairs with 公 on the right. Picture a public (公) insect (虫) that everyone notices: a long centipede or a jumping grasshopper.

Reading mnemonic

For コウ, imagine a centipede crawling into a public park (公園, こうえん). The コウ from こうえん cues the reading while the insect radical ties it to the meaning.