Japanese Language Trivia of the Day

虫のマーチ! June is the first month the weather gets humid enough to prompt the return of Japan's torrent of enormous bugs. As such, what better time to be armed with a comparable barrage of 虫-based phrases?

虫眼鏡
むし　めがね
mushi megane

Literal meaning: Bug glasses.
Translation: Magnifying glass.






虫干し
むし　ぼし
mushi boshi

Literal meaning: 干し means to dry out via heat, whether it be by the sun or a fire. So this one is "dry out the bugs"
Translation: Airing out, or to air out, ie what people do to their futons in the spring time.




虫歯
むし　ば
mushi ba

Literal meaning: Bug tooth
Translation: Rotten/bad tooth.

虫酸が走る
むしず　が　はしる
mushizu ga hashiru
Literal meaning: The bug-acid runs.
Translation: Disgusting




虫の居所が悪い
むし　の　いどころ　が　わるい
mushi no idokoro ga warui

Literal meaning: The bug's location is bad.
Translation: To be in a bad mood.









弱虫
よわ　むし
yowa mushi

Literal meaning: Weak bug
Translation: Coward












泣き虫
なき　むし
naki mushi

Literal Meaning: Cry bug
Translation: Crybaby











虫の知らせ
むし　の　しらせ
mushi no shirase

Literal meaning: Bug's news.
Translation: A premonition, to have a feeling about something.

Now that you know all these awesome bug phrases, beware - there are a few well-known Japanese phrases that begin with "mushi", but it's not the same kanji. For example:

蒸し暑い
むし　あつい
mushi atsui

Meaning: humid and hot, with pretty much the same translation

無視する
むし　する
mushi suru

Meaning - To ignore, disregard, or neglect.


There are a whole lot of other ones, so if you're uncertain, look it up or ask.