蛰

蟄

zhé

执 + 虫

Definitions

zhé to hibernate

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 执 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蟄.

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 执

About

蛰, the simplified form of 蟄, is a phonosemantic compound. Its traditional form 蟄 consists of the insect radical 虫 and the phonetic 執 (zhí); in the simplified character, 執 is reduced to 执. The character refers to the hibernation of insects and other animals, which lie dormant and hidden underground during winter, awaiting the warmth of spring. It is most famously associated with the solar term Jingzhe (惊蛰), which marks the moment when the first thunder of spring awakens these concealed creatures from their winter sleep.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

惊蛰时节到了。

Jīng zhé shíjié dào le.

The time of Awakening of Insects has arrived.

熊在冬天蛰伏。

Xióng zài dōngtiān zhé fú.

Bears hibernate in winter.

昆虫惊蛰后苏醒。

Kūnchóng jīng zhé hòu sūxǐng.

Insects awaken after the Awakening of Insects.

他选择蛰居乡下。

Tā xuǎnzé zhé jū xiāngxià.

He chose to live in seclusion in the countryside.

蛰伏已久的他突然出现。

Zhé fú yǐ jiǔ de tā tūrán chūxiàn.

He who had been lying low for a long time suddenly appeared.

惊蛰时节，春雷始鸣。

Jīng zhé shíjié, chūn léi shǐ míng.

During the Awakening of Insects, spring thunder begins to sound.

公司在危机中蛰伏等待机会。

Gōngsī zài wēijī zhōng zhé fú děngdài jīhuì.

The company lies dormant during the crisis, waiting for an opportunity.

经过漫长的蛰伏期，艺术家终于创作出新作品。

Jīngguò màncháng de zhé fú qī, yìshùjiā zhōngyú chuàngzuò chū xīn zuòpǐn.

After a long period of dormancy, the artist finally created new works.

Related Characters

Component: 执

Component: 虫

蛰