蚊（か、ka）
- mosquito

The Japanese word 蚊 (か) means "mosquito" in English. It refers to the small, flying insects that are known for their biting habits, especially those of the female mosquitoes, which require blood for egg production. These bites can cause itching and sometimes transmit diseases.

⚫︎夏になると、蚊が本当にたくさんいますね。 Translation: In the summer, there are really a lot of mosquitoes, aren't there? ⚫︎蚊に刺されました。かゆい！ Translation: I was bitten by a mosquito. It's itchy! ⚫︎蚊取り線香を焚きました。 Translation: I lit mosquito coil.

This word is used in everyday conversation to describe mosquitoes. You can use it when talking about seeing, feeling, or taking measures against mosquitoes. It is a very common word, especially during warmer months.

⚫︎ The word is most commonly written with the kanji 蚊. ⚫︎ The hiragana reading is か. ⚫︎ There are no common variations in okurigana.

There are no direct synonyms for "mosquito" in Japanese that are as widely used.

There are no direct antonyms for "mosquito."

寝ている間に蚊に刺されてしまった。 ・Translation: I was bitten by a mosquito while sleeping. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the experience of being bitten by a mosquito while asleep, which is a very common annoyance.

この蚊よけスプレーは効果がありますか？ ・Translation: Is this mosquito repellent spray effective? ・Explanation: This sentence inquires about the effectiveness of mosquito repellent.

The etymology of 蚊 (か) isn't definitively known. However, it's generally considered to be a native Japanese word, likely originating from the old Japanese language. The kanji 蚊 itself is a character adopted from Chinese, where it also means "mosquito."