蟾

chán
虫 + 詹

Definitions

chán toad ("chán" represents the sound of its croaking); (mythology) the three-legged toad said to exist in the moon; (metonym) the moon

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 詹

About

The character 蟾 is constructed as a phonosemantic compound: the component 虫 (chóng), meaning "insect" or "creeping animal", indicates the general biological category, while the phonetic 詹 (zhān) specifies the pronunciation. It refers to the toad, a warty-skinned amphibian, and is almost always seen in the compound 蟾蜍 (chánchú), which is the formal biological term. In classical myth, a three-legged toad is believed to reside on the moon, and as a result, 蟾 is frequently used in poetry as a refined metonym for the moon.

Example Sentences Hide

池塘里有一只蟾蜍。

Chí táng li yǒu yì zhī chán chú.

There is a toad in the pond.

蟾蜍是一种有益动物。

Chán chú shì yì zhǒng yǒu yì dòng wù.

Toads are a type of beneficial animal.

传说月亮上住着玉蟾。

Chuán shuō yuè liang shang zhù zhe yù chán.

Legend says a jade toad lives on the moon.

科学家在观察蟾的习性。

Kē xué jiā zài guān chá chán de xí xìng.

Scientists are observing the habits of toads.

这只蟾蜍趴在荷叶上一动不动。

Zhè zhī chán chú pā zài hé yè shang yí dòng bú dòng.

This toad lies motionless on the lotus leaf.

古人常用蟾宫来代指月亮。

Gǔ rén cháng yòng chán gōng lái dài zhǐ yuè liang.

Ancient people often used the Toad Palace to refer to the moon.

在显微镜下观察了蟾的细胞结构。

Zài xiǎn wēi jìng xià guān chá le chán de xì bāo jié gòu.

Observed the cellular structure of a toad under a microscope.

那片湿地为多种蟾类提供了栖息地。

Nà piàn shī dì wèi duō zhǒng chán lèi tí gōng le qī xī dì.

That wetland provides a habitat for multiple species of toads.

Related Characters

Component: 虫

虽 独 触 融 虫 蛋 蛇 蜂 蜜 蛮 虹 蝶 螺 蚁

Component: 詹

瞻 檐 赡 澹 儋 谵 膽 簷 韂 譫 幨 憺 擔 甔

Example Words

蟾蜍