How to Say "Cocoon" in Japanese

繭

mayu

The English word 'cocoon' is translated into Japanese as 繭 (mayu).

繭 refers to the protective case spun by the larvae of certain insects.

Meaning: protective case spun by the larvae of some insects (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

The romanization is mayu.

The pronunciation mayu is identical to the word for 'illusion' or 'dream' when written with different kanji, creating a phonetic ambiguity in certain contexts.
In Japanese, the word 繭 is often used metaphorically to describe a person who is isolated from the world or living in a very sheltered environment.
The kanji used in 繭 consists of the radical for 'silk', reflecting the deep historical connection between cocoon production and the Japanese textile industry.

繭から蝶が生まれる瞬間はとても美しいです。
The moment when a butterfly emerges from a cocoon is truly beautiful.
彼女はサナギを見つけて、驚きました。
She was surprised when she found a cocoon.
蚕の繭は白くて美しい。
Kaiko no mayu wa shirokute utsukushii.
Silkworm cocoons are white and beautiful.
木の枝に繭がぶら下がっている。
Ki no eda ni mayu ga burasagatte iru.
A cocoon is hanging from a tree branch.
彼は繭の中から出てきた虫を見た。
Kare wa mayu no naka kara detekita mushi o mita.
He saw an insect coming out of a cocoon.

Two people are observing nature in a park.

陽太 Yota

美咲、あの木の枝にあるのは繭かな？
Misaki, ano ki no eda ni aru no wa mayu kana?
Misaki, is that a cocoon on that tree branch?
美咲 Misaki

本当だ、陽太。とても大きくて珍しいね。
Honto da, Youta. Totemo ookikute mezurashii ne.
You're right, Youta. It's very large and rare.
陽太 Yota

中にはどんな虫が入っているんだろう。
Naka ni wa donna mushi ga haitte iru n darou.
I wonder what kind of insect is inside.
美咲 Misaki

もっと近くで観察してみようよ。
Motto chikaku de kansatsu shite miyou yo.
Let's try to observe it more closely.

Sources

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