Cicada in Japanese
"cicada" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
蝉
semi
Its reading, stroke count, etymology and cultural background.
蝉View details →
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cicada
Reading: sen
15 strokes · nature
Where it comes from
The insect radical with a phonetic element, for the cicada.
What it carries
The voice of high summer. Its cast-off shell is called utsusemi, the empty cicada, and stands for how little of a life remains. In China a jade cicada was placed in the mouth of the dead as a sign of return.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for cicada?
The most common kanji for "cicada" is 蝉, read as sen. It means cicada. Related kanji: .
How many strokes does 蝉 have?
蝉 has 15 strokes.