ハエトリグサ
haetorigusa
The English phrase 'venus flytrap' is ハエトリグサ (haetorigusa) in Japanese.
ハエトリグサ is the noun used to refer to the plant Dionaea muscipula.
Meaning: Dionaea muscipula (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The name is a compound of three parts: hae (fly), tori (catcher or trap) and gusa (grass or plant).
How do you pronounce it?
haetorigusa
Did you know?
- If you are reading a fantasy novel or playing a game, a Venus flytrap might be called 食人植物, which translates to 'man-eating plant'.
- The component gusa in ハエトリグサ is a phonetic contraction of kusa ('grass'). This change happens frequently in compound words to make the phrase easier to say quickly.
- While the English name references the Roman goddess 'Venus', the Japanese name is entirely functional, describing the plant's action of 'catching flies'.
Examples in context
- ハエトリグサを育てています。haetorigusa o sodatete imasu.I am growing a venus flytrap.
- あのハエトリグサはとても大きいです。ano haetorigusa wa totemo ookii desu.That venus flytrap is very large.
- ハエトリグサが虫を捕まえました。haetorigusa ga mushi o tsukamaemashita.The venus flytrap caught an insect.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are looking at plants in a botanical garden.
- 蓮 Ren見て、あそこにハエトリグサがあるよ。Mite, soko ni haetorigusa ga aru yo.Look, there is a venus flytrap over there.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だ、不思議な植物ね。Hontou da, fushigi na shokubutsu ne.You're right, it's a strange plant.
- 蓮 Renハエトリグサは動きが速いんだ。Haetorigusa wa ugoki ga hayai nda.Venus flytraps move very fast.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮くん、近くで見てもいい？Ren-kun, chikaku de mite mo ii?Ren, can I look at it closely?
