About
The character 蚖 (yuán) is a phono-semantic compound used to classify small reptiles or amphibians. Its semantic component 虫 (chóng) on the left serves as the radical for insects, reptiles, and similar creeping creatures, establishing its zoological category. The phonetic component 完 (wán) on the right provides the sound. 蚖 primarily refers to a type of lizard, newt, or sometimes a venomous snake in classical texts. The radical signals its place among cold-blooded, crawling animals, while 完, meaning "complete", functions here solely for pronunciation. This character appears mainly in historical records of wildlife and traditional medicine.
Etymology Hide
