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Stroke Order
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Strokes10
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of heaven and insect. Heavenly insect.
Symbolism
Sericulture, silk thread, silkworm room. Represents silkworm.
Component Breakdown
蚕=
天虫
天 + insect
Words & Expressions
Words written with 蚕
養蚕ようさんsericulture
Proverbs & Idioms
蚕は繭の中で変わる
かいこはまゆのなかでかわる
The silkworm changes inside its cocoon
Transformation happens out of sight
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 蚕 mean in Japanese?
蚕 means silkworm.
How do you read 蚕?
On'yomi: サン、テン (SAN, TEN). Kun'yomi: かいこ、こ (kaiko, ko).
How many strokes does 蚕 have?
蚕 has 10 strokes. Its radical is 虫 (insect).
Is 蚕 a good kanji for a tattoo?
蚕 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means silkworm. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.