Definitions
(noun)
insect; worm; bug
(noun)
small creature; lower form of animal life
Etymology
Pictograph of a snake.
Phonetic:
中
About
The character "虫" originated as a pictograph representing a type of snake or serpent, a meaning still preserved in some classical contexts and in its use as a component in characters like "蛇" for snake. Over centuries, its application broadened considerably to become a general category for a wide array of creatures that creep or crawl, including reptiles, amphibians, and arthropods. This expansive sense is explicitly illustrated in its traditional variant "蟲", which triples the element to conceptually represent multitudes of such creatures, often translated as "insects" or "worms". In contemporary usage, the simpler form "虫" most commonly denotes insects and small invertebrates, reflecting a more specialized, though still broad, range within the animal kingdom.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
草地上有一只虫子。
姐姐非常害怕毛毛虫。
蝴蝶是一种美丽的昆虫。
这种寄生虫危害健康。
夏夜的萤火虫闪闪发光。
被蜱虫叮咬后要及时处理。
血吸虫病是一种寄生虫病。
注意饮食卫生可以预防蛔虫。