Definitions

huáng locust

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "蝗", representing the locust, is structured as a phono-semantic compound where the insect radical "虫" denotes its biological category and the component "皇" serves primarily as a phonetic indicator for the pronunciation "huáng". This composition has maintained its integrity across historical periods, with the radical firmly anchoring the meaning to insects while the phonetic element guides its reading. The semantic scope of the character has remained narrowly focused on locusts, particularly those known for their destructive swarms in agricultural contexts, without evolving into broader or metaphorical meanings over its documented use. This consistent linkage between form, sound, and a specific entomological referent exemplifies the character's stable role within the lexicon.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

田里有很多虫。

tián lǐ yǒu hěn duō huángchóng.

There are many locusts in the field.

虫吃光了地里的庄稼。

huángchóng chī guāng le dì lǐ de zhuāngjia.

The locusts ate up all the crops in the field.

新闻报道了非洲的灾。

xīnwén bàodào le fēizhōu de huángzāi.

The news reported on the locust plague in Africa.

农民们正在努力防治害。

nóngmín men zhèngzài nǔlì fángzhì huánghài.

The farmers are working hard to prevent and control locust damage.

古代经常发生严重的灾。

gǔdài jīngcháng fāshēng yánzhòng de huángzāi.

Severe locust plagues often occurred in ancient times.

卫星图像帮助监测群移动。

wèixīng túxiàng bāngzhù jiāncè huáng qún yídòng.

Satellite imagery helps monitor the movement of locust swarms.

科学家研究虫的迁徙规律。

kēxuéjiā yánjiū huángchóng de qiānxǐ guīlǜ.

Scientists study the migration patterns of locusts.

有效的国际合作可以控制灾蔓延。

yǒuxiào de guójì hézuò kěyǐ kòngzhì huángzāi mànyán.

Effective international cooperation can control the spread of locust plagues.