This site will be taken down March 31st, 2026.

This was not an easy decision to make. For the last couple years, I have been struggling to find motivation for this site and to keep up with basic maintenance and security updates. With the rise of AI and more sophisticated tools, the usefulness of sites like this is questionable and traffic has nose-dived. I just don't have it in me to keep doing this. Thank you all for 10 years of support!

Zach

Readings

Kana: ケイ、ほたる
Romaji: kei, hotaru
Kana
Romaji

Meanings

lightning-bug, firefly

Stroke Diagram

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Kanji Info

Stroke Count:  11
Radical Number:  142
Frequency:  2031
Grade:  8
Skip Pattern:  2-5-6
Korean Reading:  hyeong
Chinese Reading:  ying2
Unicode:  86cd
JIS:  3756

Indexes

Halpern Index: 2591
New Nelson Index: 5302
Spahn Hadamitzky Index: 3n8.2
Four Corner Index: 9013.6
Guide to Remembering Index: 1200
Gakken Index: 1925
Daikanwanjiten Index: 32983
Daikanwanjiten Index and Page: 10.0023
Remembering the kanji Index: 518
Kanji Flashcards Index: 1717
Kodansha Compact Index: 1607
Kanji in Context Index: 1676
1999 Kanji Learners Index: 1658
2013 Kanji Learners Index: 2248
French Remembering the Kanji Index: 524
Remembering the Kanji 6th Index: 557
Kodansha Kanji Index: 3204
Tuttle Kanji Cards Index: 1482

Words

(ほたる、ホタル)
firefly (Luciola cruciata); lightning bug; glowworm
蛍雪 (けいせつ)
diligence in studying (e.g. continuing to study even in such poor light as offered by a firefly or that reflected by snow); diligent study
蛍光物質 (けいこうぶっしつ)
fluorescent substance; phosphor
蛍雪の功 (けいせつのこう)
the fruit of diligent study
蛍藺 (ほたるい、ホタルイ)
Scirpus hotarui (species of bulrush)
蛍光 (けいこう)
fluorescence
蛍袋 (ほたるぶくろ)
bellflower
蛍石 (ほたるいし、けいせき)
fluorite; fluorspar
螢火 (けいか、ほたるび)
light of a firefly
蛍光灯 (けいこうとう)
fluorescent lamp; fluorescent light; person who is slow to react; someone slow on the uptake
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