Definitions

used in 蠐螬|蛴螬[qí cáo]; used in 蝤蠐|蝤蛴[qiú qí]

Etymology phono-semantic

insect

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The Chinese character , together with its traditional form , is a phono-semantic compound. It features the insect radical on the left, indicating a link to creeping invertebrates, and the phonetic (or in traditional) on the right. The character is most often seen in the compound 蛴螬, which denotes a grub, specifically the thick, white, C-shaped larva of scarab beetles and chafers that lives in soil and feeds on the roots of plants.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image
Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern