also: あめんぼう
noun
pond skater; water strider
Refers to any insect of the family Gerridae, commonly seen skating on the surface of ponds and slow streams.
池にアメンボがたくさんいる。
There are many pond skaters on the pond.
アメンボは水面をすいすいと動く。
The water strider glides smoothly over the water surface.
Rare kanji spelling; 黽 is not a standard Jōyō kanji.
Rare kanji spelling; literally 'water horse'.
Rare kanji spelling; literally 'candy boy', possibly ateji.
The origin is uncertain. The word may be related to あめ (candy) and 坊 (boy), but this is speculative. The kanji 水黽 and 水馬 are direct descriptions of the insect.