蜻

qīng

虫 + 青

Definitions

qīng (noun) dragonfly (used as part of 蜻蜓)

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 青

About

蜻 is a phonosemantic compound: 虫 gives the semantic category of insects, and 青 (qīng) indicates the pronunciation. The character denotes flying insects, most prominently the dragonfly, where it pairs with another character in the standard binomial term 蜻蜓. The independent meaning of 青, green or blue, may also reflect the iridescent body colors common among these insects. Confined to entomological vocabulary, 蜻 names slender-bodied, large-eyed winged predators found near water, and it has no verb or adjective uses, functioning only as a noun for these creatures.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我看到一只蜻蜓。

Wǒ kàn dào yī zhī qīngtíng.

I see a dragonfly.

蜻蜓飞得很高。

Qīngtíng fēi de hěn gāo.

The dragonfly flies very high.

湖面上有许多蜻蜓。

Húmiàn shàng yǒu xǔduō qīngtíng.

There are many dragonflies on the lake surface.

蜻蜓的翅膀是透明的。

Qīngtíng de chìbǎng shì tòumíng de.

The dragonfly's wings are transparent.

孩子们在公园里追蜻蜓。

Háizimen zài gōngyuán lǐ zhuī qīngtíng.

The children are chasing dragonflies in the park.

蜻蜓捕食蚊子和其他小昆虫。

Qīngtíng bǔshí wénzi hé qítā xiǎo kūnchóng.

Dragonflies prey on mosquitoes and other small insects.

如果下雨，蜻蜓就会飞得很低。

Rúguǒ xià yǔ, qīngtíng jiù huì fēi de hěn dī.

If it rains, dragonflies will fly very low.

科学家研究蜻蜓的飞行方式以改进无人机设计。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū qīngtíng de fēixíng fāngshì yǐ gǎijìn wúrénjī shèjì.

Scientists study the flight methods of dragonflies to improve drone design.

Related Characters

Component: 虫

Component: 青

蜻