Japanese Conversation · Level 32
90 words
Japanese word
とんぼ
Pronunciation
Romajitonbo
Meaning
- noundragonfly
Example
池のそばでとんぼを見ました。ike no so ba de to n bo o mi ma shi ta
I saw a dragonfly by the pond.
More examples
夕暮れになると、とんぼが水面の上を飛びます。yū gu re ni na ru to to n bo ga sui men no ue o to bi ma su
At dusk, dragonflies fly over the surface of the water.
Core concept
Refers to a slender winged insect that darts through the air, often near ponds and other water.
Common phrases
とんぼを捕まえるto n bo o tsuka ma e ru
catch a dragonfly
Definition in Japanese
細長い体と二対の透明な翅を持ち、水辺を飛び回る昆虫。hoso naga i karada to ni tai no tō mei na hane o mo chi mizu be o to bi mawa ru kon chū
Word origin
The origin of とんぼ (tonbo) is uncertain, while とんぼう (tonbō) is an older recorded form related to the modern word.
Usage tips
- In Japanese haiku, とんぼ (tonbo) is an autumn seasonal word, even though dragonflies can appear in other seasons.