About
The character "螅" is a phono-semantic compound incorporating the semantic radical "虫", which classifies it among insects or small creatures, and the phonetic component "息", providing an approximate sound for its reading. It was formulated in the modern era to designate the hydra or polyp within biological terminology, entering Chinese through the assimilation of scientific vocabulary from other languages. Its meaning has remained specifically tied to these simple aquatic animals since its creation, without broadening or altering its reference over time. The use of the insect radical for an organism not strictly an insect shows how character formation sometimes extends radical categories to accommodate new scientific concepts.
Example Sentences Hide
水螅生活在淡水中。
我们可以用放大镜看水螅。
水螅的身体是半透明的。
水螅用触手捕捉食物。
这种水螅喜欢清洁的水域。
在实验室里培养水螅并不难。
水螅的再生现象常被生物学研究。
通过研究水螅纲动物，科学家探索进化过程。