About
蚱 (zhà) is a phonosemantic compound used in the name 蚱蜢 (zhàměng), meaning grasshopper. The component 虫 (chóng, 'insect') marks it as belonging to the realm of insects, reptiles, or creeping creatures, while 乍 (zhà) provides the pronunciation. The phonetic 乍 also carries the sense of 'sudden,' subtly echoing the grasshopper's abrupt leaps. The character was coined specifically for this insect name, and its usage remains tightly confined to entomology, with no significant metaphorical or abstract extensions.
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.