蝙

biān

扁 + 虫

Definitions

biān used in 蝙蝠[biān fú]

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 扁

About

蝙 is a phonosemantic compound that pairs the meaning component 虫 (the insect radical) with the phonetic 扁 (biǎn). Historically, 虫 covered a broad range of creeping creatures, reptiles, and invertebrates rather than modern insects alone, so applying it to a flying mammal fits this ancient categorisation. The character has no independent use today and appears only in the compound 蝙蝠 (biānfú, bat), where the second character 蝠 shares its sound with 福 (fortune), giving the bat its enduring association with good luck in traditional folklore.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我看到一只蝙蝠。

Wǒ kàn dào yī zhī biānfú.

I saw a bat.

蝙蝠在夜晚飞行。

Biānfú zài yèwǎn fēixíng.

Bats fly at night.

山洞里有很多蝙蝠。

Shāndòng lǐ yǒu hěn duō biānfú.

There are many bats in the cave.

蝙蝠利用回声定位。

Biānfú lìyòng huíshēng dìngwèi.

Bats use echolocation.

虽然蝙蝠长得像鸟，但它们是哺乳动物。

Suīrán biānfú zhǎng de xiàng niǎo, dàn tāmen shì bǔrǔ dòngwù.

Although bats look like birds, they are mammals.

由于蝙蝠是夜行性动物，所以白天很少见到它们。

Yóuyú biānfú shì yèxíngxìng dòngwù, suǒyǐ báitiān hěn shǎo jiàn dào tāmen.

Since bats are nocturnal animals, they are rarely seen during the day.

蝙蝠的翅膀实际上是由前肢演化而来的。

Biānfú de chìbǎng shíjì shàng shì yóu qiánzhī yǎnhuà ér lái de.

Bat wings are actually evolved from forelimbs.

在一些文化中，蝙蝠被视为吉祥的象征，而在另一些文化中却代表邪恶。

Zài yīxiē wénhuà zhōng, biānfú bèi shì wéi jíxiáng de xiàngzhēng, ér zài lìng yīxiē wénhuà zhōng què dàibiǎo xié'è.

In some cultures, bats are seen as a symbol of good luck, while in others they represent evil.

Related Characters

Component: 扁

Component: 虫

蝙