About
The character 蛭 is a phono-semantic compound formed by the semantic radical 虫 (chóng), which denotes insects, worms, or reptiles, and the phonetic component 至 (zhì). It specifically means "leech", referring to the blood-sucking annelid worm found in aquatic or terrestrial habitats. The radical places the leech within the traditional category of crawling creatures. 蛭 appears most often in compounds like 蚂蟥 (mǎhuáng) or 水蛭 (shuǐzhì), both terms for leeches encountered in wet environments or used in medicine. Its meaning is precisely confined to this organism, combining the worm category with a phonetic cue to form a specific zoological term.
Etymology Hide
