How to say "butterfly" in Japanese

• 蝶ちょうJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe everyday word for the insect. It is the neutral choice in most contexts, whether describing a butterfly in the garden or talking about butterflies in general.
  私は美うつくしい蝶ちょうを捕つかまえた。↗

  I caught a beautiful butterfly.
• 蝶々ちょうちょうCommon
  nounAlso means the insect, and is essentially interchangeable with 蝶. The doubled sound gives it a slightly softer, more affectionate ring, typical of casual speech and of language used with children.
  あなたは美うつくしい蝶々ちょうちょうです。↗

  You are a beautiful butterfly.
• バタフライCommon
  nounA loanword that refers specifically to the butterfly stroke in swimming, not to the insect. For the insect, this is not the word you want — use 蝶 or 蝶々 instead.

Use 蝶 or 蝶々 for the insect 'butterfly' — they are largely interchangeable, with 蝶々 having a softer, more colloquial feel — and 「バタフライ」 only for the swimming stroke.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 蝶ちょうbutterfly
• 蝶々ちょうちょうbutterfly
• バタフライbutterfly (swimming stroke)
• 胡蝶こちょうbutterfly
• パピヨンbutterfly
• 夢見鳥ゆめみどりbutterfly