Definitions

zhī used in 蜘蛛[zhī zhū]

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蜘" serves exclusively as the first syllable in the disyllabic word "蜘蛛" for spider, and its construction follows the phono-semantic principle by combining the semantic radical "虫", denoting creatures or insects, with the phonetic component "知" to indicate pronunciation. This character was devised specifically to represent the initial sound of the spoken word, possessing no independent meaning outside this compound, and its form has remained structurally consistent since its inception. The etymological choice of components was driven by auditory approximation rather than any literal connection to the spider's attributes, and the character has functioned solely within this lexical partnership without undergoing shifts in meaning or graphical alteration over time.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

蛛在爬行。

Zhīzhū zài páxíng.

The spider is crawling.

树上有一只蛛。

Shù shàng yǒu yī zhī zhīzhū.

There is a spider on the tree.

那只蛛织了一张网。

Nà zhī zhīzhū zhīle yī zhāng wǎng.

That spider spun a web.

蛛网粘住了小虫子。

Zhīzhūwǎng zhān zhùle xiǎo chóngzi.

The spider web caught a small insect.

孩子们害怕黑色的蛛。

Háizimen hàipà hēisè de zhīzhū.

Children are afraid of black spiders.

蛛利用丝线捕捉猎物。

Zhīzhū lìyòng sīxiàn bǔzhuō lièwù.

Spiders use silk to catch prey.

科学家研究蛛的习性。

Kēxuéjiā yánjiū zhīzhū de xíxìng.

Scientists study the habits of spiders.

在阴暗的角落里,蛛静静地等待。

Zài yīn'àn de jiǎolǐ, zhīzhū jìngjìng de děngdài.

In the dark corner, the spider waits quietly.