About
The character 蜩 is a phono-semantic compound that pairs the insect radical 虫 on the left, marking the semantic category of bugs, reptiles, and similar creatures, with the phonetic component 周 on the right. It specifically denotes the cicada, a large insect known for its loud buzzing in summer. In classical Chinese poetry and literature, this character frequently appears to evoke the atmosphere of late summer or autumn, often symbolizing the passage of time, the fleeting nature of life, or a sense of melancholy. In modern vernacular, however, it has largely been replaced by other common terms for the insect.
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