Bookworm
Those who love reading books are called “bookworm” in English.
本の虫
Such people seem to be compared to worms that eat books and live in books.
英語で本が好きでよく読む人のことを、「bookworm」と言います。
Actually, there is also a Japanese phrase called “本の虫(hon no mushi: hon means book, and mushi means bugs or worms),” and the etymology is the same as “bookworm.”
本を好きすぎる人を、本をかじって本の中に住む虫に例えているようです。
We always say just “虫(mushi),” but the bug that actually eat books is called “silverfish,” “booklice,” or “deathwatch beetle.”
そして日本語にも、「本の虫」という同じ表現があり、語源は同じです。
Silverfish eat not only books, but also grain and clothings.
我々は単に「虫」といいますが、実際に本を食べる虫は「紙魚」のことです。
Since they have a long life-span (about 8 years), they will propagate rapidly if you do nothing.
紙魚は本だけでなく、穀物や衣類なども食べてしまいます。
Therefore, if you found them, you should do a thorough house cleaning.
寿命が長く、放っておくと大繁殖するようなので、注意しましょう。
