蝌

kē
科 + 虫

Definitions

kē used in 蝌蚪[kē dǒu]

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 科

About

蝌 is a phonosemantic compound: the radical 虫 (insect) on the left marks it as a small, creeping creature, while the component 科 on the right gives the sound. The character refers to the tadpole, the larval stage of frogs and toads, and appears almost exclusively in the compound 蝌蚪; it does not function as an independent noun in ordinary use. The choice of 虫 reflects the traditional grouping of tadpoles with insects and similar animals, and the meaning has remained limited to this single zoological sense throughout its history.

Example Sentences Hide

池塘里有很多蝌蚪。

Chítáng lǐ yǒu hěnduō kēdǒu.

There are many tadpoles in the pond.

孩子们喜欢看小蝌蚪。

Háizimen xǐhuān kàn xiǎo kēdǒu.

Children like to watch small tadpoles.

蝌蚪在水中游来游去。

Kēdǒu zài shuǐ zhōng yóu lái yóu qù.

Tadpoles swim back and forth in the water.

春天是观察蝌蚪的好季节。

Chūntiān shì guānchá kēdǒu de hǎo jìjié.

Spring is a good season for observing tadpoles.

这些蝌蚪很快就会变成青蛙。

Zhèxiē kēdǒu hěn kuài jiù huì biànchéng qīngwā.

These tadpoles will soon turn into frogs.

我们需要保护蝌蚪的自然栖息地。

Wǒmen xūyào bǎohù kēdǒu de zìrán qīxīdì.

We need to protect the natural habitat of tadpoles.

通过实验可以了解蝌蚪的生长发育。

Tōngguò shíyàn kěyǐ liǎojiě kēdǒu de shēngzhǎng fāyù.

Through experiments, one can understand the growth and development of tadpoles.

科学家正在研究蝌蚪变态的激素调控。

Kēxuéjiā zhèngzài yánjiū kēdǒu biàntài de jīsù tiáokòng.

Scientists are researching the hormonal regulation of tadpole metamorphosis.

Related Characters

Component: 科

嵙

Component: 虫

虽 独 触 融 虫 蛋 蛇 蜂 蜜 蛮 虹 蝶 螺 蚁

Example Words

蝌蚪