silkworm

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 蚕 is read かいこ, has 10 strokes, and relates to silkworms.
• Basic usage: 蚕 is read かいこ, and 養蚕 is read ようさん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 蚕 and 養蚕
  • 蚕 means silkworm.
  • 桑の葉を食べる蚕を教室で観察した。 means “We observed silkworms eating mulberry leaves in class.”
  • 養蚕 means sericulture or silkworm raising.
  • 資料館で昔の養蚕道具の使い方を学んだ。 means “At the museum, I learned how old sericulture tools were used.”