蝇

蠅

yíng

虫 + 黾

Definitions

yíng (noun) fly (insect)

Etymology

Insects 虫 that toads 黾 feed on

About

The traditional form 蠅 combines the insect radical 虫 with 黽 (toad), together suggesting the fly as an insect that toads feed on. The simplified character 蝇 replaces 黽 with 黾. This character refers to the common fly, a buzzing, winged insect drawn to food and waste. Because of its irritating persistence and association with filth, the character also appears in compounds to describe petty, bothersome people or trivial but persistent nuisances.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

桌子上有只苍蝇。

Zhuōzi shàng yǒu zhī cāngying.

There is a fly on the table.

苍蝇喜欢脏地方。

Cāngying xǐhuān zāng dìfāng.

Flies like dirty places.

我赶走了那只苍蝇。

Wǒ gǎnzǒule nà zhī cāngying.

I chased away that fly.

苍蝇的翅膀很透明。

Cāngying de chìbǎng hěn tòumíng.

The fly's wings are very transparent.

夏天苍蝇特别多。

Xiàtiān cāngying tèbié duō.

In summer, flies are especially numerous.

他用蝇拍打死了苍蝇。

Tā yòng yíngpāi dǎsǐle cāngying.

He killed the fly with a fly swatter.

苍蝇传播多种疾病。

Cāngying chuánbō duō zhǒng jíbìng.

Flies spread various diseases.

为了防止苍蝇进入，我们安装了纱窗。

Wèile fángzhǐ cāngying jìnrù, wǒmen ānzhuāngle shāchuāng.

To prevent flies from entering, we installed a screen window.

Related Characters

Component: 虫

Component: 黾

蝇