About
The character 蚱 is structured with the semantic component 虫, denoting insects, and the phonetic component 乍. Its earliest etymological use appears in the term 蚱蝉, where it specifically referred to a cicada. Over time, the character's application broadened to include other insects, most commonly seen in the compound 蚱蜢 for grasshopper, marking a shift in its specific referent within the category of insects. The form of the character has consistently employed these components to convey its meaning and pronunciation.