Refers to the worm-like larva of flies, often found on decaying matter. Can be used literally or figuratively to describe something repulsive.
Maggots were breeding in the kitchen waste.
Maggots bred in the raw garbage.
Maggots swarm on rotten meat.
Maggots had gotten onto the rotten meat.
maggot · worm; scum
Usually written in kana; the kanji 蛆 is rare and may not be widely recognized.
Katakana spelling is common in informal or emphatic contexts, such as in manga or casual writing.
Kanji form is rare and may be unfamiliar to many readers; kana is strongly preferred.
The origin is uncertain; it is a native Japanese word (和語) with no clear kanji etymology. The kanji 蛆 is a Chinese character used for its meaning, not phonetic origin.