Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
オハグロトンボ (おはぐろとんぼ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
Calopteryx atrata ; black-winged damselfly
usually written using kana alone
A species of damselfly with dark, metallic-looking wings. The Japanese name literally means 'teeth-blackening dragonfly', referring to the old custom of ohaguro.
うつく
しい
金きん
属ぞく
光こう
沢たく
の
ある
羽はね
を
持も
っ
て
いる
。
The male Calopteryx atrata has beautiful, metallic-looking wings.
Written forms オハグロトンボ
kana-only spelling
Katakana spelling is common for this species name; usually written in kana.
御お 歯は 黒ぐろ 蜻蛉とんぼ
Kanji spelling using 御歯黒 (ohaguro, teeth-blackening) and 蜻蛉 (dragonfly). Rarely used in practice.
鉄漿おはぐろ 蜻蛉とんぼ
Alternate kanji spelling using 鉄漿 (ohaguro, teeth-blackening). Rarely used.
Kanji 御 honorable, manipulate, govern Similar words トンボ General term for dragonflies and damselflies. オハグロトンボ is a specific species.
イトトンボ Refers to damselflies in general (suborder Zygoptera). オハグロトンボ is a larger, broad-winged damselfly.
Etymology From お歯黒 (ohaguro, 'teeth blackening', an old custom) + 蜻蛉 (tonbo, 'dragonfly'), referring to the dark, blackish wings that resemble blackened teeth.