蛹
chrysalis, pupa
Strokes13
Readings
On'yomi
- ヨウ
Kun'yomi
- さなぎ
Meaning
蛹 centers on the dormant transformation stage of an insect: a chrysalis or pupa, the protective casing where metamorphosis occurs.
Most common words using 蛹
Study
Etymology
蛹 combines the insect radical 虫 with the phonetic component 甬, which likely contributes the sound and may relate to the idea of emergence or a container.
Meaning mnemonic
The insect radical 虫 beside 甬, which looks like a container with a lid, suggests an insect enclosed in a protective case: a chrysalis.
Reading mnemonic
For ヨウ, imagine a yo-yo hanging from a branch, and inside the yo-yo a pupa is transforming: yo-yo -> ヨウ, and the insect is dormant inside.