蛹

yǒng

甬 + 虫

Definitions

yǒng chrysalis; pupa

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 甬

About

蛹 is a phonosemantic compound: the semantic component 虫 (chóng), meaning insect, combines with the phonetic component 甬 (yǒng). 虫 on the left indicates the meaning domain, while 甬 on the right supplies the pronunciation. The character denotes the pupa or chrysalis, the dormant developmental stage between the larval and adult forms of insects like butterflies and moths. Its usage is limited to this literal biological sense, without having acquired common metaphorical or extended meanings.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这是一个蚕蛹。

Zhè shì yī gè cányǒng.

This is a silkworm pupa.

蚕蛹可以食用。

Cányǒng kěyǐ shíyòng.

Silkworm pupae can be eaten.

蝴蝶从蛹中羽化。

Húdié cóng yǒng zhōng yǔhuà.

Butterflies emerge from the pupa.

蛹是昆虫的发育阶段。

Yǒng shì kūnchóng de fāyù jiēduàn.

The pupa is a developmental stage of insects.

蚕蛹富含蛋白质营养。

Cányǒng fùhán dànbáizhì yíngyǎng.

Silkworm pupae are rich in protein nutrients.

在蛹期，昆虫不吃不动。

Zài yǒngqī, kūnchóng bù chī bù dòng.

During the pupal stage, insects neither eat nor move.

科学家观察了蛹的变态过程。

Kēxuéjiā guānchá le yǒng de biàntài guòchéng.

Scientists observed the metamorphosis process of the pupa.

某些鸟类以地下越冬的蛹为食。

Mǒu xiē niǎolèi yǐ dìxià yuèdōng de yǒng wéi shí.

Some birds feed on pupae that overwinter underground.

Related Characters

Component: 甬

Component: 虫

蛹