蚌

bèng, bàng

丰 + 虫

Definitions

bèng abbr. for Bengbu prefecture-level City 蚌埠市[bèng bù shì], Anhui

bàng mussel; clam

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 丰

About

The character 蚌 is a phono-semantic compound. Its left side, the radical 虫, originally meant 'insect' or 'bug' but in character formation was broadly used for all sorts of lower animals, including invertebrates, reptiles, and bivalves. The right side, 丰, serves as the phonetic component, indicating the pronunciation. The meaning of 蚌 is specifically freshwater mussels, clams, and similar bivalve mollusks, referring to both the creatures and their shells. It functions solely as a noun, appearing in culinary and biological terminology, without extended verbal or abstract meanings.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

河蚌生活在河里。

Hé bàng shēng huó zài hé lǐ.

River clams live in rivers.

这个蚌壳很漂亮。

Zhège bàng ké hěn piàoliang.

This clam shell is very beautiful.

妈妈买了新鲜的蚌肉。

Māma mǎi le xīnxiān de bàng ròu.

Mom bought fresh clam meat.

渔民从湖里捕捞河蚌。

Yúmín cóng hú lǐ bǔlāo hé bàng.

Fishermen harvest river clams from the lake.

我们用蚌壳做装饰品。

Wǒmen yòng bàng ké zuò zhuāngshìpǐn.

We use clam shells to make decorations.

如果你找到珍珠蚌，可能会发现珍珠。

Rúguǒ nǐ zhǎo dào zhēnzhū bàng, kěnéng huì fāxiàn zhēnzhū.

If you find a pearl clam, you might discover a pearl.

虽然蚌肉美味，但处理起来很麻烦。

Suīrán bàng ròu měiwèi, dàn chǔlǐ qǐlái hěn máfan.

Although clam meat is delicious, it is troublesome to prepare.

环境保护对于河蚌的生存至关重要。

Huánjìng bǎohù duìyú hé bàng de shēngcún zhìguān zhòngyào.

Environmental protection is crucial for the survival of river clams.

Related Characters

Component: 丰

Component: 虫

蚌