Definitions

zhū (bound form) spider

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

is a phonosemantic compound combining the insect radical and the phonetic component . , on the left, suggests the semantic category, traditionally covering insects, reptiles, and various small creeping creatures. , on the right, indicates the pronunciation. The character is used almost exclusively in the compound 蜘蛛, meaning "spider", and does not function as an independent word. Its classification under the insect radical reflects pre-modern zoological groupings of many-legged creatures, not the modern biological distinction between arachnids and insects.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Spring and Autumn (~700 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

在织网。

Zhīzhū zài zhī wǎng.

The spider is weaving a web.

我害怕蜘

Wǒ hàipà zhīzhū.

I am afraid of spiders.

墙上有一只蜘

Qiáng shàng yǒu yī zhī zhīzhū.

There is a spider on the wall.

网很粘。

Zhīzhūwǎng hěn zhān.

The spider web is very sticky.

那只蜘爬走了。

Nà zhī zhīzhū pá zǒu le.

That spider crawled away.

是节肢动物。

Zhīzhū shì jiézhī dòngwù.

Spiders are arthropods.

他用显微镜观察蜘

Tā yòng xiǎnwēijìng guānchá zhīzhū.

He observes spiders with a microscope.

的毒液可能有害。

Zhīzhū de dúyè kěnéng yǒuhài.

Spider venom can be harmful.