Bookworm

Those who love reading books are called "bookworm" in English.

Such people seem to be compared to worms that eat books and live in books.

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."

We always say just "虫(mushi)," but the bug that actually eat books is called "silverfish," "booklice," or "deathwatch beetle."

Silverfish eat not only books, but also grain and clothings.

Since they have a long life-span (about 8 years), they will propagate rapidly if you do nothing.

Therefore, if you found them, you should do a thorough house cleaning.

本の虫

英語で本が好きでよく読む人のことを、「bookworm」と言います。

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。

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。

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。

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。

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。