虱

蝨

shī

⺄ + 䖝

Frequency#4013

Definitions

shī louse

Etymology phono-semantic

insect

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 乙

About

The character "虱", meaning louse, originates from its traditional form "蝨", a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic component "䖵" for insects with the phonetic element "卂". The simplified form "虱" retains the insect association through the radical "虫" while incorporating a reduced top component that derives from the original structure, thus streamlining the character without altering its core meaning, which has consistently denoted the parasitic insect throughout its documented use.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这只狗有虱子。

Zhè zhī gǒu yǒu shīzi.

This dog has lice.

她的头发里发现了虱子。

Tā de tóufà lǐ fāxiànle shīzi.

Lice were found in her hair.

虱子会传播疾病。

Shīzi huì chuánbō jíbìng.

Lice can spread diseases.

我们要小心避免虱子。

Wǒmen yào xiǎoxīn bìmiǎn shīzi.

We need to be careful to avoid lice.

学校通知有头虱问题。

Xuéxiào tōngzhī yǒu tóushī wèntí.

The school notified about a head lice problem.

虱子寄生在动物毛发中。

Shīzi jìshēng zài dòngwù máofà zhōng.

Lice parasitize in animal fur.

由于卫生条件差，虱子容易滋生。

Yóuyú wèishēng tiáojiàn chà, shīzi róngyì zīshēng.

Due to poor sanitary conditions, lice easily breed.

研究人员正在研究虱子的抗药性。

Yánjiū rényuán zhèngzài yánjiū shīzi de kàngyàoxìng.

Researchers are studying the drug resistance of lice.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: ⺄

Component: 䖝

虱