蜒

yán
延 + 虫

Definitions

yán slug; used in 蜿蜒[wān yán]

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 延

About

The character 蜒 is a phono-semantic compound: the left-side radical 虫 places it in the semantic domain of insects, reptiles, and creeping invertebrates, while the right-side component 延 supplies the pronunciation. (Although 延 as an independent word means "to stretch", it functions here solely as a phonetic.) The character appears in compounds for elongated crawling creatures, notably 蛞蜒 (slug) and 蜒蚰 (millipede). The graphic juxtaposition of the "bug" radical with the extended-looking phonetic component mirrors the long, flexible bodies of these animals. Its application is entirely biological; the character never takes on abstract or metaphorical meanings.

Example Sentences Hide

这条小路蜿蜒向前。

Zhè tiáo xiǎo lù wānyán xiàng qián.

This small path winds forward.

厨房里发现了一只蚰蜒。

Chúfáng li fāxiànle yī zhǐ yóuyán.

A house centipede was found in the kitchen.

清澈的溪水蜿蜒流过山谷。

Qīngchè de xīshuǐ wānyán liúguò shāngǔ.

The clear stream winds its way through the valley.

蚰蜒虽然样子吓人，但其实是益虫。

Yóuyán suīrán yàngzi xiàrén, dàn qíshí shì yìchóng.

Although house centipedes look scary, they are actually beneficial insects.

长城像一条巨龙蜿蜒在群山之上。

Chángchéng xiàng yī tiáo jù lóng wānyán zài qún shān zhī shàng.

The Great Wall winds like a giant dragon over the mountains.

潮湿的地下室容易滋生蚰蜒。

Cháoshī de dìxiàshì róngyì zīshēng yóuyán.

Damp basements are prone to breeding house centipedes.

车队沿着蜿蜒的盘山公路缓缓行驶。

Chēduì yánzhe wānyán de pánshān gōnglù huǎnhuǎn xíngshǐ.

The motorcade drove slowly along the winding mountain road.

在晨雾中，那条蜿蜒的河仿佛一条银色的丝带。

Zài chén wù zhōng, nà tiáo wānyán de hé fǎngfú yī tiáo yínsè de sīdài.

In the morning mist, the winding river resembles a silver ribbon.

Related Characters

Component: 延

诞 涎 筵 埏 綖 蜑 莚 誕 梴 郔

Component: 虫

虽 独 触 融 虫 蛋 蛇 蜂 蜜 蛮 虹 蝶 螺 蚁

Example Words

蜿蜒