オハグロトンボ

お

は

ぐ

ろ

と

ん

ぼ

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.

オハグロトンボは、川かわの近ちかくでよく見みられる。

The Calopteryx atrata is often seen near rivers.

オハグロトンボのオスは、美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.

Kanji

御honorable, manipulate, govern
歯tooth, cog
黒black
蜻dragonfly
蛉dragonfly, moon moth
鉄iron
漿a drink

Related 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.

Built from

お+歯は黒ぐろ+トンボ

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.

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.