Can I explain the idea behind a Velcro tape using the name of these plant seeds? (photo)


**Introduction:** Long time ago, when I had no idea Velcro tape was called
マジックテープ in Japanese I tried to suggest using it to my Japanese colleague. He
had no idea about the word "Velcro", so I tried an example of
[bur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bur), but I found Japanese people think of
food when they hear ゴボウ ([burdock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctium))
rather than its seeds.

Now I have found these stuck to my jeans:

[![Japanese
burs](https://i.stack.imgur.com/yFQw9.jpg)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/yFQw9.jpg)

(in reality they were greener, about 5 mm in size).

**Question:** What is the plant (or seeds) called in Japanese and is its
feature of sticking to animals/human known well enough to use it as an
explanation of the way Velcro tape works?




The generic name you are lookig for would be 「ひっつき[虫]{むし}」 or 「くっつき虫」.

「ひっつく」 means "to adhere to". 「くっつく」 is its synonym.

<http://matsue-hana.com/yasou/hittukimusi.html>

As to your other question, I just remembered hearing somewhere long ago how
Velcro was invented from the observation of these plants, but I think that is
because reading your question has triggered my memory.

「ひっつき虫のようにひっつくテープ」 would only be understood by those who are familiar with the
word 「ひっつき虫」, which I feel like was in my active vocabulary as a kid but is
not really there any more.

「マジックテープ」 would probably be the only word that every Japanese-speaker is
familiar with.




The generic name you are lookig for would be 「ひっつき[虫]{むし}」 or 「くっつき虫」.

「ひっつく」 means "to adhere to". 「くっつく」 is its synonym.

<http://matsue-hana.com/yasou/hittukimusi.html>

As to your other question, I just remembered hearing somewhere long ago how
Velcro was invented from the observation of these plants, but I think that is
because reading your question has triggered my memory.

「ひっつき虫のようにひっつくテープ」 would only be understood by those who are familiar with the
word 「ひっつき虫」, which I feel like was in my active vocabulary as a kid but is
not really there any more.

「マジックテープ」 would probably be the only word that every Japanese-speaker is
familiar with.

