スズメガ
suzumega
The English phrase "hawk moth" is translated into Japanese as スズメガ (suzumega).
スズメガ is the noun used to refer to a moth belonging to the family Sphingidae.
Meaning: moth of the family Sphingidae (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The ga part of the word comes from the Japanese word for moth (蛾).
How does it change in a sentence?
To refer specifically to the scientific Sphingidae family, you can add ka (meaning family) to the end of the word to form スズメガ科.
How do you pronounce it?
suzumega
Did you know?
- The word スズメガ contains スズメ, which is the Japanese word for 'sparrow'.
- While English names hawk moths for its flight, Japanese names for many insects are based on visual mimicry or resemblance to other animals. The スズメ in スズメガ reflects a perceived likeness in size or shape to the bird.
- Certain species of スズメガ are known as 'sphinx moths' in English, but in Japanese, the name remains consistent as スズメガ regardless of the Western mythological reference.
Examples in context
- 庭に大きなスズメガがいました。Niwa ni ookina suzumega ga imashita.There was a large hawk moth in the garden.
- あのスズメガはとても速く飛びます。Ano suzumega wa totemo hayaku tobimasu.That hawk moth flies very fast.
- スズメガの模様はとても綺麗です。Suzumega no moyou wa totemo kirei desu.The hawk moth's pattern is very beautiful.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are looking at an insect in the park.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太、見て！あそこに変な虫がいるよ。Yota, mite! Asoko ni hen na mushi ga iru yo.Yota, look! There is a strange bug over there.
- 陽太 Yotaあれはたぶんスズメガだと思うよ。Are wa tabun suzumega da to omou yo.I think that is probably a hawk moth.
- 美咲 Misakiスズメガ？名前が面白いね。Suzumega? Namae ga omoshiroi ne.A hawk moth? That's an interesting name.
- 陽太 Yotaうん、とても珍しい蛾なんだよ。Un, totemo mezurashii ga nan da yo.Yeah, it's a very rare moth.
