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The character "蝠", representing the bat, is formed by the radical "虫" indicating a creature or small animal, combined with the phonetic component "畐" which guides its pronunciation. This structural arrangement points to an earlier classification where bats were grouped with other winged or crawling beings, despite their biological distinction as mammals. The meaning of "蝠" has remained narrowly focused on this specific animal throughout its history, with its usage almost entirely confined to the compound "蝙蝠". While the phonetic element "畐" appears in other characters carrying connotations of abundance or blessing, in this context it serves solely as a sound indicator, illustrating how Chinese characters often pair a semantic radical with a phonetic one without both contributing to meaning. The character's form and core definition have persisted with little alteration, showcasing a consistent lexical identity over time.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
蝙蝠在夜晚飞。
我看到一只蝙蝠。
蝙蝠住在山洞里。
蝙蝠使用回声定位。
蝙蝠是哺乳动物，会飞。
因为蝙蝠吃昆虫，所以对农业有益。
虽然蝙蝠看起来像鸟，但它们不是鸟类。
科学家研究蝙蝠的导航系统，以改进雷达技术。