Japanese word

ほたる

Pronunciation

Romajihotaru

Meaning

  • nounfirefly

Example

川辺でほたるが光っています。kawa be de ho ta ru ga hika tte i ma su

A firefly is glowing by the river.

Illustration for ほたる (firefly)

More examples

夏の夜、ほたるを見に行きます。natsu no yoru ho ta ru o mi ni i ki ma su

I go to see fireflies on summer nights.

Core concept

Refers to a small night-flying insect that produces a soft light from its abdomen, making it noticeable in dark riverside or woodland settings.

Common phrases

  • ほたるの光ho ta ru no hikari

    firefly light

  • ほたるを見るho ta ru o mi ru

    watch fireflies

Definition in Japanese

夜に飛び、腹部を発光させる昆虫。yoru ni to bi fuku bu o hak kō sa se ru kon chū

Word origin

The Japanese noun ほたる (hotaru) is a native Japanese word with an uncertain exact origin, while the kanji 蛍 (hotaru, "firefly") is a later written form.

Usage tips

  • In English, firefly is the common term in North America, while glowworm often refers to the glowing larvae or females of certain other insects, so the two translations are not always exact equivalents.

Other meanings

  • glowwormnoun

Word lists with this word