About
The character "毒" traces its origins to early Chinese writing where it conceptually represented poisonous plants, with its structure typically interpreted as integrating elements suggestive of vegetation alongside markers of peril. While the exact etymological composition has seen scholarly debate, the character has consistently maintained a form that visually hints at its association with toxicity through components often linked to plant life and adverse effects. Its initial meaning was narrowly focused on natural toxins derived from flora, but over time it broadened to encompass a wide spectrum of harmful substances, including synthetic poisons and narcotics, as well as abstract notions of malice or corrupting influence. This semantic extension allowed the character to adapt to evolving contexts where descriptions of harm were required, from physical venoms to moral or social decay. In modern usage, "毒" continues to function as a key semantic unit in vocabulary denoting poison, drugs, and various forms of detrimental quality, preserving its core conceptual link to danger across linguistic applications.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这种蘑菇有毒。
毒品对健康有害。
病毒传播得很快。
他中毒被送医院。
这种毒药非常危险。
科学家在研究解毒方法。
环境污染会导致土壤有毒。
这种化学物质有剧毒，必须小心处理。