蝎

蠍

xiē

曷 + 虫

Frequency#3929

Definitions

xiē variant of 蠍|蝎[xiē]

xiē (bound form) scorpion

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蠍.

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 曷

About

The character "蝎", denoting the scorpion, derives from the traditional form "蠍" which is structurally composed of the insect radical "虫" paired with the phonetic component "歇" to suggest its pronunciation. In early textual contexts, "蝎" held a broader semantic range, encompassing various venomous arthropods and even wood-boring larvae, before its meaning gradually specialized to refer exclusively to the scorpion. The simplified version "蝎" modifies this construction by substituting the phonetic "歇" with the component "曷", a graphical alteration that retains the insect radical while distancing the character from its original phonetic cue, reflecting the linguistic process where form adapted alongside the more defined zoological meaning.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我在沙漠里看到蝎子

Wǒ zài shāmò lǐ kàndào xiēzi

I saw a scorpion in the desert.

蝎子是一种毒虫

Xiēzi shì yī zhǒng dúchóng

Scorpions are a type of poisonous insect.

小心那只毒蝎子

Xiǎoxīn nà zhī dú xiēzi

Be careful of that poisonous scorpion.

天蝎座是我的星座

Tiānxiēzuò shì wǒ de xīngzuò

Scorpio is my zodiac sign.

他被蝎子蜇伤了手臂

Tā bèi xiēzi zhēshāngle shǒubì

His arm was stung by a scorpion.

在干燥地区蝎子很常见

Zài gānzào dìqū xiēzi hěn chángjiàn

Scorpions are common in arid regions.

研究人员正在研究蝎毒

Yánjiū rényuán zhèngzài yánjiū xiēdú

Researchers are studying scorpion venom.

这只蝎子的毒性非常强烈

Zhè zhǐ xiēzi de dúxìng fēicháng qiángliè

This scorpion's venom is extremely potent.

Related Characters

Component: 曷

Component: 虫

蝎