How to Say "Larva" in Japanese

幼虫

yōchū

The English word 'larva' is translated into Japanese as 幼虫 (yōchū).

幼虫 is used to refer to an animal in such stage of growth.

Meaning: an animal in such stage of growth (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the kanji 幼 (yō), meaning 'infant' or 'young' and 虫 (chū), meaning 'insect'.

The romanization is yōchū.

While 幼虫 is the technical term for 'larva', Japanese speakers often use the word 芋虫 'imomushi' for caterpillars, which literally means 'potato bug'.
The character 虫 is sometimes used as a slang term to describe someone who is obsessed with a particular hobby, such as a 勉強虫 'benkyō-mushi' or 'study-bug'.
In Japanese culture, certain larvae like the ウジ 'uji' (fly larva) are used in traditional folk medicine and specific historical skincare treatments.

私たちの研究では、蝶類の幼虫段階を詳しく調査しています。
In our research, we are thoroughly investigating the larval stage of butterflies.
この幼虫はとても大きいです。
Kono yuuchuu wa totemo ookii desu.
This larva is very large.
葉っぱに幼虫がいます。
Happa ni yuuchuu ga imasu.
There is a larva on the leaf.
幼虫を観察しましょう。
Yuuchuu o kansatsu shimashou.
Let's observe the larva.

Two children are looking at a plant in a garden.

陽太 Yota

美咲、見て！幼虫がいるよ。
Misaki, mite! Yuuchuu ga iru yo.
Misaki, look! There is a larva.
美咲 Misaki

本当だ、陽太くん。かわいいね。
Hontou da, Youta-kun. Kawaii ne.
You're right, Youta. It's cute.
陽太 Yota

動いているのが見える？
Ugote iru no ga mieru?
Can you see it moving?
美咲 Misaki

うん、ゆっくり動いているよ。
Un, yukkuri ugoite iru yo.
Yes, it is moving slowly.

Sources

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