Definitions

wén (noun) mosquito

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 蚊, representing the mosquito, is etymologically a phono-semantic compound wherein the radical 虫 categorizes it as an insect and the component 文 chiefly provides phonetic guidance. This structural composition has remained consistent over time, with no significant graphical simplification distinguishing traditional from modern usage. Its core meaning has steadfastly referred to the mosquito, though in classical contexts it sometimes appeared in analogies for minor vexations, akin to the insect's persistent nuisance, without ever departing from its primary zoological reference.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

夏天有很多子。

Xiàtiān yǒu hěnduō wénzi.

There are many mosquitoes in summer.

子会叮人。

Wénzi huì dīng rén.

Mosquitoes bite people.

我晚上被子咬了。

Wǒ wǎnshang bèi wénzi yǎo le.

I was bitten by a mosquito at night.

子可能传播登革热。

Wénzi kěnéng chuánbō dēnggérè.

Mosquitoes can spread dengue fever.

使用帐能避免被叮。

Shǐyòng wénzhàng néng bìmiǎn bèi dīng.

Using a mosquito net can avoid being bitten.

香可以驱

Diǎn wénxiāng kěyǐ qū wén.

Lighting mosquito incense can repel mosquitoes.

子的幼虫生活在水中。

Wénzi de yòuchóng shēnghuó zài shuǐ zhōng.

Mosquito larvae live in water.

科学家研究如何消灭子。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū rúhé xiāomiè wénzi.

Scientists study how to eliminate mosquitoes.