蜘

zhī

知 + 虫

Definitions

zhī used in 蜘蛛[zhī zhū]

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 知

About

A phono-semantic compound, 蜘 features the insect radical 虫 on the left, placing it among insects, spiders, worms, and similar small creatures, while the component 知 on the right indicates the pronunciation. Although 知 itself means "to know" and is composed of 矢 (arrow) and 口 (mouth), its meaning is irrelevant here, it serves only a phonetic function. The character is almost always used together with 蛛 to form the disyllabic word 蜘蛛, meaning spider. This structure reflects a common method in Chinese for naming animals, combining a taxonomic radical with a familiar phonetic element.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

蜘蛛在爬行。

Zhīzhū zài páxíng.

The spider is crawling.

树上有一只蜘蛛。

Shù shàng yǒu yī zhī zhīzhū.

There is a spider on the tree.

那只蜘蛛织了一张网。

Nà zhī zhīzhū zhīle yī zhāng wǎng.

That spider spun a web.

蜘蛛网粘住了小虫子。

Zhīzhūwǎng zhān zhùle xiǎo chóngzi.

The spider web caught a small insect.

孩子们害怕黑色的蜘蛛。

Háizimen hàipà hēisè de zhīzhū.

Children are afraid of black spiders.

蜘蛛利用丝线捕捉猎物。

Zhīzhū lìyòng sīxiàn bǔzhuō lièwù.

Spiders use silk to catch prey.

科学家研究蜘蛛的习性。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū zhīzhū de xíxìng.

Scientists study the habits of spiders.

在阴暗的角落里，蜘蛛静静地等待。

Zài yīn'àn de jiǎolǐ, zhīzhū jìngjìng de děngdài.

In the dark corner, the spider waits quietly.

Related Characters

Component: 知

Component: 虫

蜘