昆 means “insects, descendants”

こん · kon

Also: elder brother, insect

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

コン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 8 strokes

The story

The sun (日) over figures crowded side by side (比): picture bugs swarming in the sunlight. 昆 lives in two words: 昆虫, insects, and 昆布, the kelp that gives Japanese dashi its deep, savory flavor.

Used in 昆虫 (konchuu, insect) and 昆布 (konbu, kelp)

More from Beasts & Wings

• 獣 beast
• 殻 shell
• 鶏 chicken
• 雌 female (animal)
• 蛍 firefly
• 牙 fang
• 蚊 mosquito
• 蜂 bee
• 雄 male (animal)
• 尾 tail
• 翼 wing
• 鶴 crane

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

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