蜂
hachi[ha̠t͡ɕi]
The Japanese word for bee is 蜂 (hachi). Wiktionary also lists 花蜂 (hanabachi).
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 蜂 | hachi | [ha̠t͡ɕi] (narrow) |
| 花蜂 | hanabachi | [ha̠na̠ba̠t͡ɕi] (narrow) |
蜂 is a general term used to refer to bees, wasps or hornets. If you want to refer specifically to a honeybee, you can use mitsubachi. To represent the buzzing sound of a bee, you can use the onomatopoeia bunbun.
Which one should you use?
While 蜂 is a broad term covering various stinging insects like wasps and hornets, 花蜂 is used specifically to refer to a bee.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you are describing being stung by a bee, use the particle に after 蜂 to indicate the agent performing the action.
How do you pronounce it?
hachi
Did you know?
- The word 蜂 can also be read as 'hachi', which is also the Japanese word for the number eight. This phonetic coincidence is often used in wordplay.
- The word 蜂 was originally pronounced as pati in ancient times. Over centuries, the sound shifted from 'p' to 'f' and finally to the modern 'h' sound.
- In some contexts, the onomatopoeia bunbun is used not just for bees, but for any low, vibrating sound, such as the sound of a motor.
Examples in context
- 蜂に刺されました。I got a bee sting.This sentence is useful for saying you received a bee sting.Tatoeba #82638 by bunbuku, translation #321078 by CK
- 痛い！蜂に刺された。Ouch!! I've been stung by a bee!!This sentence is useful for expressing the pain of being stung by a bee.Tatoeba #125695 by small_snow, translation #278297 by CM
- 蜂が花に飛んできた。The bee flew to the flower.This sentence is useful for describing a bee flying to a flower.Tatoeba #660871 by arihato, translation #684745 by notrwanda
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are walking in a park.
- 陽太 Yotaあ、あそこに蜂がいるよ。A, asoko ni hachi ga iru yo.Oh, there is a bee over there.
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、本当に？どこ？E, hontō ni? Doko?What, really? Where?
- 陽太 Yotaあの花に蜂が止まっているよ。Ano hana ni hachi ga tomatte iru yo.A bee is perched on that flower.
- 結衣 Yui近寄らないようにしよう。Chikayoranai yō ni shiyō.Let's make sure not to get close.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bee” translations and entries 蜂, 花蜂, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 花蜂, 蜂, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
