Insect in Japanese
"insect" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
虫
mushi
2 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "insect". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
虫 is an insect, and more broadly any small creature — it covers snakes and frogs in older usage, and it is the radical in their characters. 昆 appears in 昆虫, the scientific word for insect.
虫View details →
Top pick
insect, bug, temper
Reading: chuu
6 strokes · nature
Where it comes from
Pictograph of insect.
What it carries
Insect, pest, bug. Represents insect.
Related kanji for "insect"
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for insect?
The most common kanji for "insect" is 虫, read as chuu. It means insect, bug, temper. Related kanji: 昆 (insect).
How many strokes does 虫 have?
虫 has 6 strokes.