6462
I am aware of these words that mean "butterfly":

  * [蝶]{ちょう} 
  * 蝶々 (Is the alternate form of チョウチョ more common than 蝶々? Because 蝶々 would be チョウチョウ instead and it seems ウ is removed because of shortening)
  * [胡]{こ}蝶
  * バタフライ (I think this is mainly used in the context of swimming; バタフライで泳ぐ, and in the context of chaos theory; バタフライ効果. Can it be used for the insect?)

Which is most commonly used to generally refer to the insect? And when are the
less common (if any) forms used? What are their nuances if any?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-10T15:36:05.283
6460
2012-08-11T17:54:04.617
542
question
word-choice
Which word to use for "butterfly"?
From my experience, `蝶々` is the most used and recognized. Although I've never
heard the pronunciation shortened to `チョウチョ`.

I personally like to use `胡蝶` (note: can also be written as `蝴蝶`) because 1)
it sounds cooler, and 2) [`蝴蝶隠れ`](http://youtu.be/zHVwYSn2P9E). But whenever
I've used `蝴蝶` in conversation with my Japanese friends, none of them knew
what I what talking about until I changed it to `蝶々`.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-10T19:57:45.253
6462
2012-08-10T19:57:45.253
78
6460
answer
This is sort of a piggy-back/solidification of the first response [the one
about Latin and whatnot], and also a clarification of the shortening. ** Also,
sorry if you know some of this, or if it seems long-winded**

  * In terms of the shortening, this occasionally happens in colloquialism. Just as we shorten or slur words in more relaxed communication, this also happens in Japanese. So in terms of which one is safest to use, use ちょうちょう. If you look at an online dictionary (personally I like to use tangorin.com), they sometimes tell you which one is more common. The elongated one is more common, most likely because it is the one that is more socially acceptable and safe. You may hear the shortened form in very casual speech, but it shouldn't be used with just anyone as it can be disrespectful. You also wouldn't write the shortened version (unless in a super casual setting).
  * The choice between using 蝶 and 蝶々 is explained when you think about how kanji works. Kanji in itself is not a set of words, it is a set of meanings. so the kanji by itself means butterfly, but can be thought of as the butterfly nature of something. This is why you can have some words that can have the kanji for butterfly in it, and not refer to the insect (like 蝶ナート, which is a nut with a butterfly-ish form). So, think of 蝶々 as a "butterfly, butterfly" referring to the actual insect just as we would make such clarifications in English. 
  * In terms of 胡蝶, it refers to the insect as well, but it is an archaic word. You will probably read it in novels more than you will hear it. 
  * バタフライ would be used for an imported form of typing (imported because it is written in katakana, typing because of its usage). You can think of the difference between 蝶 and バタフライ can be thought of like this: 

"Hey, I've got this new think/concept from America! It's called the Butterfly
___!" (here you would use katakana)

"Hmmm, you know, I'm trying to come up with a name for this thing, and it kind
of has the nature of a butterfly. I think i will call it chou_ **_/** _chou! "
(in this case it would be kanji)

Of course this example can only be generalized, and some things are surely a
case by case basis, but this should help I think.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-08-11T17:54:04.617
6468
2012-08-11T17:54:04.617
1598
6460
answer