About
The character "蟥" is a phono-semantic compound formed with the semantic radical 虫, denoting insects or worms, and the phonetic component 皇, which guides its pronunciation. This character is employed specifically in the term "蚂蟥" to refer to leeches, and its meaning has been consistently tied to this creature without broadening to other referents. The structural composition of 虫 and 皇 has defined the character since its adoption, and it exists without a distinct simplified variant.
Etymology Hide
