蚣

gōng

公 + 虫

Definitions

gōng used in 蜈蚣[wú gōng]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 公 represents the sound.

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 公

About

蚣 is a zoological term used almost exclusively to designate the centipede, where it appears as the second element of the compound 蜈蚣. It is a phonosemantic compound: the semantic component 虫 on the left means 'insect' or 'worm', placing the creature among creeping invertebrates, and the phonetic component 公 on the right gives the reading gōng. The character's use is entirely confined to this venomous arthropod, with no extended or metaphorical meanings.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我看到一条蜈蚣。

Wǒ kàn dào yī tiáo wúgōng.

I see a centipede.

蜈蚣有很多腿。

Wúgōng yǒu hěn duō tuǐ.

Centipedes have many legs.

小心地上的蜈蚣。

Xiǎoxīn dìshàng de wúgōng.

Be careful of the centipede on the ground.

蜈蚣是一种节肢动物。

Wúgōng shì yī zhǒng jiézhī dòngwù.

Centipedes are a type of arthropod.

这只蜈蚣的颜色是棕色的。

Zhè zhī wúgōng de yánsè shì zōngsè de.

This centipede's color is brown.

在花园里经常能找到蜈蚣。

Zài huāyuán lǐ jīngcháng néng zhǎo dào wúgōng.

You can often find centipedes in the garden.

蜈蚣的毒液可以用于医学研究。

Wúgōng de dúyè kěyǐ yòng yú yīxué yánjiū.

The venom of centipedes can be used for medical research.

尽管蜈蚣外表可怕，但它在生态系统中扮演重要角色。

Jǐnguǎn wúgōng wàibiǎo kěpà, dàn tā zài shēngtài xìtǒng zhōng bànyǎn zhòngyào juésè.

Although centipedes look scary, they play an important role in the ecosystem.

Related Characters

Component: 公

Component: 虫

蚣