Definitions

dié variant of 蝶[dié]
dié (bound form) butterfly

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 蝶 is a phono-semantic compound combining the semantic radical 虫 (chóng, insect) with the phonetic component 枼 (yè, leaf or thin wood slice). This pairing suggests an insect resembling a fluttering leaf, aptly describing a butterfly. Historically, its meaning has been specifically confined to butterflies, often seen in the compound word 蝴蝶 (húdié). The insect radical places it within a traditional biological category, while the phonetic element guides pronunciation and subtly evokes the flat, leaf-like shape of a butterfly's wings in flight.

Example Sentences Hide

我看到一只蝴

Wǒ kàn dào yī zhī húdié.

I see a butterfly.

在花上飞。

Húdié zài huā shàng fēi.

The butterfly is flying on the flower.

美丽的蝴喜欢花朵。

Měilì de húdié xǐhuān huāduǒ.

Beautiful butterflies like flowers.

那只黄色的蝴很漂亮。

Nà zhī huángsè de húdié hěn piàoliang.

That yellow butterfly is very beautiful.

从蛹里蜕变出来。

Húdié cóng yǒng lǐ tuìbiàn chūlái.

The butterfly emerges from the chrysalis.

在春天,许多蝴在花园里飞舞。

Zài chūntiān, xǔduō húdié zài huāyuán lǐ fēiwǔ.

In spring, many butterflies flutter in the garden.

他擅长泳和自由泳。

Tā shàncháng diéyǒng hé zìyóuyǒng.

He is good at butterfly stroke and freestyle.

科学家研究蝴的迁徙模式。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū húdié de qiānxǐ móshì.

Scientists study the migration patterns of butterflies.