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若虫 (わかむし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

若わか虫むし

Meanings

1

noun

entomology

Entomological term for the immature stage of hemimetabolous insects, resembling the adult but lacking fully developed wings and reproductive organs.

See also: ニンフ

トンボの若わか虫むしは水すい中ちゅうで生せい活かつする。
Dragonfly nymphs live in water.
バッタの若わか虫むしは成せい虫ちゅうに似にているが、羽はねが短みじかい。
Grasshopper nymphs resemble adults but have short wings.

Kanji

若young, if, perhaps
虫insect, bug, temper

Similar words

幼よう虫ちゅう
幼虫 is a broader term for 'larva', used for holometabolous insects (e.g., caterpillars, maggots), while 若虫 specifically refers to the nymph stage of hemimetabolous insects.
成せい虫ちゅう
成虫 means 'adult insect' or 'imago', the fully developed stage after metamorphosis.

Etymology

Compound of 若 (waka, 'young') and 虫 (mushi, 'insect'). The reading わかむし is a straightforward kun'yomi combination.