firefly

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 蛍 is read ほたる, has 11 strokes, and relates to fireflies or fluorescence.
• Basic usage: 蛍 is read ほたる, and 蛍光灯 is read けいこうとう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 蛍 and 蛍光灯
  • 蛍 means firefly.
  • 夏の夜、川辺で蛍が淡い光を放っていた。 means “Fireflies gave off a faint glow by the river on a summer night.”
  • 蛍光灯 means fluorescent light.
  • 古い蛍光灯が時々ちらついている。 means “The old fluorescent light sometimes flickers.”