Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
カブトムシ (kabutomushi) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Report an issue with this page
In summer, I go to the forest to catch rhinoceros beetles.
Rhinoceros beetle larvae grow in leaf mold.
Usage patterns カブトムシを 飼か う to keep a rhinoceros beetle as a pet
I decided to keep a rhinoceros beetle over summer vacation.
カブトムシを 捕つか まえる to catch a rhinoceros beetle
I caught a rhinoceros beetle in the forest.
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 でカブトムシを 探さが す to search for rhinoceros beetles in a place
At night, we searched for rhinoceros beetles around the trees.
Kanji 甲 armor, high (voice), A grade Don't confuse with カブトムシ is the rhinoceros beetle with a single horn, while クワガタムシ is the stag beetle with large pincer-like mandibles; children often collect both and mix up the names.
Written with the same kanji as カブトムシ, 甲虫 (こうちゅう) is the broad biological term for beetles in general, while カブトムシ refers specifically to the rhinoceros beetle species.
Written forms カブトムシ Usage 67%
kana-only spelling
Standard katakana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
甲かぶと 虫むし Usage 18%
Kanji spelling; rarely used. 甲虫 can also be read こうちゅう (beetle in general).
カブト 虫むし Usage 10%
search-only kanji form
Search-only mixed kanji-katakana form.
かぶとむし
Etymology From カブト (兜, helmet) + ムシ (虫, insect), referring to the horn that resembles a samurai helmet (kabuto).
Usage 2%
Hiragana spelling, also common.
かぶと 虫むし Usage 2%
search-only kanji form
Search-only mixed hiragana-kanji form.
兜かぶと 虫むし Usage 1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji spelling using 兜 (helmet).
