蚊
ka[ka̠]
The Japanese word for mosquito is 蚊 (ka). If unsure, use 蚊. Wiktionary also lists カ (ka).
Meaning: small flying insect of the family Culicidae, known for biting and sucking blood (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 蚊 | ka | [ka̠] (narrow) [ka̠ː] (narrow) |
| カ | ka | [ka̠] (narrow) |
The word refers to the small flying insect of the family Culicidae known for biting and sucking blood.
Which one should you use?
The word can be written as 蚊 or in katakana as カ. The katakana version カ is frequently used in scientific contexts or when referring to the insect in a general biological sense.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of the Nagano prefecture, locals call mosquitoes ぶんば.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing the experience of being bitten, the passive form 蚊に刺される is the standard way to express that a mosquito bit you.
How do you pronounce it?
ka
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the active form 蚊が刺す (the mosquito bites) instead of the more natural passive form 蚊に刺される (to be bitten by a mosquito) when describing the experience of being bitten.
Did you know?
- The katakana カ used for mosquito is actually a simplified version of the kanji 加 from the Heian period.
Examples in context
- 蚊が刺した。A mosquito just bit me.This sentence shows the active form of 蚊.Tatoeba #186461 by small_snow, translation #23597 by CK
- 蚊に刺された。I was bitten by a mosquito.This sentence shows the passive form of 蚊.Tatoeba #157976 by small_snow, translation #4794027 by NatsuDonkey
- 蚊帳が破けちゃった。The mosquito net was torn.This sentence shows the use of 蚊 in the word for mosquito net.Tatoeba #9676278 by small_snow, translation #9444614 by Cabo
- 夏 (なつ) になると、蚊 (か) がたくさん出 (で) ます。When summer comes, a lot of mosquitoes appear.
- 夏 (なつ) は蚊 (か) が本当 (ほんとう) にうるさい。Mosquitoes are so annoying in summer.
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
In a bedroom during the summer night.
- 美咲 Misaki蚊がいるよ。ka ga iru yo.There is a mosquito.
- 大翔 Hirotoどこ？doko?Where?
- 美咲 Misakiあ、あそこに蚊がいる！a, asoko ni ka ga iru!Ah, there is a mosquito over there!
- 大翔 Hirotoすぐ叩いてやる。sugu tataite yaru.I'll swat it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mosquito” translations and entries 蚊, カ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries カ, 蚊, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
