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

空蝉

虚蝉、 現人

Readings

Kana: うつせみ、うつそみ、うつしおみ
Romaji: utsusemi, utsusomi, utsushiomi
Kana
Romaji

Definitions

1

man of this world; the real world; temporal things

2

cast-off cicada shell; cicada

Note: Only 空蝉、 虚蝉

Kanji

Readings: クウ、 そら、 あ.く、 あ.き、 あ.ける、 から、 す.く、 す.かす、 むな.しい
Meanings: empty, sky, void, vacant, vacuum
Readings: セン、 ゼン、 せみ
Meaning: cicada
Readings: キョ、 コ、 むな.しい、 うつ.ろ
Meanings: void, emptiness, unpreparedness, crack, fissure, untruth
Readings: ゲン、 あらわ.れる、 あらわ.す、 うつつ、 うつ.つ
Meanings: present, existing, actual
Readings: ジン、 ニン、 ひと、 -り、 -と
Meaning: person