ハエトリグサ

also: ハエトリソウ

Meanings

noun

Venus flytrap

usually written using kana alone

Refers specifically to the carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula. Commonly written in katakana.

ハエトリグサは虫むしを捕つかまえることで知しられている。
The Venus flytrap is known for catching insects.
彼かれはハエトリグサを育そだてるのが趣しゅ味みだ。
His hobby is growing Venus flytraps.

See all 4 example sentences ›

Kanji

蠅fly
取take, fetch, take up
草grass, weeds, herbs

Built from

ハエ+取とる+草くさ

Written forms

ハエトリソウ
kana-only spelling
Alternate katakana spelling with ソウ instead of グサ; less common but still encountered.
はえとりぐさ
Hiragana spelling; readable but less common than katakana.
はえとりそう
Hiragana spelling with そう; less common.
蠅取り草
rarely-used kanji form
- はえとりぐさ
  Rare kanji form using 蠅 (fly) and 草 (plant).
- はえとりそう
蠅取草
rarely-used kanji form
- はえとりぐさ
  Rare kanji form, variant of 蠅取り草.
- はえとりそう

Etymology

Compound of 蠅 (hae, 'fly') + 取り (tori, 'catching') + 草 (kusa, 'plant'), literally 'fly-catching plant'. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the name describes its insectivorous nature.