蝌

kē
科 + 虫

Definitions

kē used in 蝌蚪[kē dǒu]

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 科

About

The character 蝌 is a phono-semantic compound formed by the semantic radical 虫 (insect) on the left, which categorizes it among small crawling creatures, and the phonetic component 科 (kē) on the right, which provides its pronunciation. It is used almost exclusively in the compound 蝌蚪 (kēdǒu), meaning "tadpole", the larval stage of frogs and toads. The character does not typically stand alone as an independent noun. Historically, the use of the 虫 radical reflects a traditional classification for a wide range of small animals, and 蝌 has been consistently applied within this zoological category.

Example Sentences Hide

池塘里有很多蝌蚪。

Chítáng lǐ yǒu hěnduō kēdǒu.

There are many tadpoles in the pond.

孩子们喜欢看小蝌蚪。

Háizimen xǐhuān kàn xiǎo kēdǒu.

Children like to watch small tadpoles.

蝌蚪在水中游来游去。

Kēdǒu zài shuǐ zhōng yóu lái yóu qù.

Tadpoles swim back and forth in the water.

春天是观察蝌蚪的好季节。

Chūntiān shì guānchá kēdǒu de hǎo jìjié.

Spring is a good season for observing tadpoles.

这些蝌蚪很快就会变成青蛙。

Zhèxiē kēdǒu hěn kuài jiù huì biànchéng qīngwā.

These tadpoles will soon turn into frogs.

我们需要保护蝌蚪的自然栖息地。

Wǒmen xūyào bǎohù kēdǒu de zìrán qīxīdì.

We need to protect the natural habitat of tadpoles.

通过实验可以了解蝌蚪的生长发育。

Tōngguò shíyàn kěyǐ liǎojiě kēdǒu de shēngzhǎng fāyù.

Through experiments, one can understand the growth and development of tadpoles.

科学家正在研究蝌蚪变态的激素调控。

Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū kēdǒu biàntài de jīsù tiáokòng.

Scientists are researching the hormonal regulation of tadpole metamorphosis.

Related Characters

Component: 科

嵙

Component: 虫

虽 独 触 融 虫 蛋 蛇 蜂 蜜 蛮 虹 蝶 螺 蚁

Example Words

蝌蚪