虫: the kanji for insect; bug
虫 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means insect; bug. Below are its readings, 6 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
虫 is written in 6 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
虫 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 6 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
チュウ (chuu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 昆虫こんちゅう · konchū | insect |
| 害虫がいちゅう · gaichū | harmful insect; pest |
| 殺虫剤さっちゅうざい · satchūzai | insecticide |
むし (mushi)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 虫むし · mushi | insect; bug |
| 虫歯むしば · mushiba | cavity; tooth decay |
| 泣き虫なきむし · nakimushi | crybaby |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 夏の夜は虫の声が聞こえる。Natsu no yoru wa mushi no koe ga kikoeru.On summer nights, you can hear insects chirping.
- 甘いものを食べすぎると虫歯になる。Amai mono o tabesugiru to mushiba ni naru.If you eat too many sweets, you will get cavities.
- 息子は昆虫の図鑑を毎日見ている。Musuko wa konchū no zukan o mainichi mite iru.My son looks at his insect encyclopedia every day.
- 害虫から野菜を守る方法を調べた。Gaichū kara yasai o mamoru hōhō o shirabeta.I looked up ways to protect vegetables from pests.
- 今日は朝から虫の居所が悪い。Kyō wa asa kara mushi no idokoro ga warui.I have been in a bad mood since this morning.
Questions about 虫
How many strokes does 虫 have?
虫 is written in 6 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 虫?
The on readings are chuu (チュウ). The kun readings are mushi (むし).
What JLPT level is 虫?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Nature, weather and animals
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 虫
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.