Butterflies are fascinating creatures that capture the imagination of many people across the world. If you're learning Japanese and want to know how to say “butterfly” in Japanese, then this article is for you!
In Japanese, the word for "butterfly" is "Chou". This word is written using two Kanji characters: "蝶", which means "butterfly", and "蝶々", which is an older way of writing the word and is used less frequently today.
In addition, there are several other words that can be used to refer to different types of butterflies or in specific contexts. For example, “鱗翅目” (Rinshimoku) is the name of the taxonomic group that includes butterflies and moths in Japanese.
We recommend reading: Japanese Animal Name – Doubutsu
Índice de Conteúdo
Butterflies in Japanese Culture
It is also interesting to note that butterflies have an important symbolic meaning in Japanese culture. They are often associated with the idea of transformation, renewal and ephemeral beauty. For example, the image of a butterfly is often used in paintings, literature and other artistic mediums to represent the transience of life and the quest for beauty and harmony.
Another example of how butterflies are valued in Japanese culture is the “Butterfly Festival” (Chou-no-matsuri), which takes place annually at Hiyoshi Shrine in the city of Otsu. During this festival, people make offerings and prayers in honor of the butterflies, hoping for luck and prosperity.
Vocabulary of Butterflies in Japanese
- チョウ (Chou) - butterfly
- 蝶 (Chou) - butterfly
- 蝶々 (Chou Chou) - butterfly (older form)
- 蝶の羽 (Chou no hane) - butterfly wings
- 鱗翅目 (Rinshimoku) - order Lepidoptera (taxonomic group that includes butterflies and moths)
- 菜の花チョウ (Nanohana chou) - Rapeseed White Butterfly (Eurema mandarina), a common species in Japan
- クロアゲハ (Kuro ageha) - Black Paper butterfly (Atrophaneura alcinous), a large and colorful species found in Japan
- ウラギンシジミ (Uragin shijimi) - Lycaenidae butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas), a small and common species in Japan
- ヒトリゴマドラ (Hitori gomadora) - Rice butterfly (Mycalesis gotama), a common species in rural areas of Japan
- シジミチョウ (Shijimi chou) - Moth, a subclass of butterflies that includes species that are smaller and simpler in appearance.
- 蛾 (Ga) - moth
- 蛾類 (Garyuu) - order Lepidoptera (including butterflies and moths)
- 幼虫 (Youchuu) - larva
- 蛹 (Sanagi) - pupa
- トンボ (Tonbo) - dragonfly
- 蝉 (Semi) - cicada
- カブトムシ (Kabutomushi) - rhinoceros beetle
- トビケラ (Tobikera) - lagarta
- アゲハチョウ (Ageha chou) - Admiral butterfly (Vanessa indica), a large and colorful species found in Japan
- チョウセンアサギマダラ (Chousen asagimadara) - Korean blue-winged butterfly (Limenitis glor.), a rare species found in Northeast Asia.
These words and terms can be useful if you want to delve deeper into the study of Japanese butterflies and their different characteristics. In addition, they can be useful in specific contexts, such as in discussions about wildlife or scientific research on butterflies.
