蛍 means “firefly”

ほたる · hotaru

Also: lightning-bug

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ほたる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ケイ

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 11 strokes

The story

An insect (虫) under a cover (冖) with sparks above (⺍), short for the two fires (火火) of the old form 螢: the firefly. 蛍光ペン is a highlighter, and when a Japanese store plays 蛍の光, the tune of Auld Lang Syne, it is closing time.

Used in 蛍 (hotaru, firefly), 蛍光灯 (keikoutou, fluorescent light), and 蛍光ペン (keikou pen, highlighter)

More from Beasts & Wings

• 牙 fang
• 蚊 mosquito
• 蜂 bee
• 雄 male (animal)
• 尾 tail
• 翼 wing
• 鶴 crane
• 巣 nest
• 虎 tiger
• 昆 insects
• 獣 beast
• 殻 shell

Learn 蛍 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.