蝴

hú
胡 + 虫

Definitions

hú used in 蝴蝶[hú dié]

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 胡

About

The character 蝴 (hú) is a phonosemantic compound, consisting of the radical 虫 on the left and the phonetic component 胡 on the right. The 虫 radical, meaning 'insect', indicates that the word belongs to the broad category of insects and similar creatures. The 胡 component (pronounced hú) provides the sound, serving purely as a phonetic marker. 蝴 does not function independently; it always pairs with 蝶 (dié) to form the disyllabic word 蝴蝶 (húdié), meaning 'butterfly'. This use of a semantic insect radical combined with a phonetic element is a standard way to create names for specific insects in Chinese.

Example Sentences Hide

一只蝴蝶在飞。

Yī zhī húdié zài fēi.

A butterfly is flying.

花上有一只黄蝴蝶。

Huā shàng yǒu yī zhī huáng húdié.

There is a yellow butterfly on the flower.

孩子们在追蝴蝶。

Háizimen zài zhuī húdié.

The children are chasing the butterfly.

美丽的蝴蝶落在她的肩上。

Měilì de húdié luò zài tā de jiān shàng.

A beautiful butterfly landed on her shoulder.

蝴蝶的翅膀非常漂亮。

Húdié de chìbǎng fēicháng piàoliang.

The butterfly's wings are very beautiful.

这只蝴蝶标本保存得很好。

Zhè zhī húdié biāoběn bǎocún de hěn hǎo.

This butterfly specimen is very well preserved.

她的裙子像蝴蝶一样鲜艳。

Tā de qúnzi xiàng húdié yīyàng xiānyàn.

Her dress is as bright as a butterfly.

蝴蝶的蜕变过程充满了生命力。

Húdié de tuìbiàn guòchéng chōngmǎn le shēngmìnglì.

The transformation process of a butterfly is full of vitality.

Related Characters

Component: 胡

湖 糊 瑚 葫 鹕 猢 煳 醐 餬 媩 衚 鬍 鶘 鶦

Component: 虫

虽 独 触 融 虫 蛋 蛇 蜂 蜜 蛮 虹 蝶 螺 蚁

Example Words

蝴蝶 蝴蝶结 蝴蝶花 蝴蝶兰 蝴蝶酥