蟋

xī

悉 + 虫

Definitions

xī used in 蟋蟀[xī shuài]

Etymology

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

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 悉

About

The character 蟋 is an entomological term appearing almost exclusively in the compound 蟋蟀 (xīshuài), the standard word for "cricket". Structurally, it is a phono-semantic compound. The left side, the insect radical 虫, provides the semantic category of insects and similar small creatures. The right side, the character 悉 (xī), supplies the pronunciation. Since it denotes a specific insect, its meaning is direct and precise, relying on the paired character 蟋蟀 to form a complete noun used in both classical texts and modern biology.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

秋天能听到蟋蟀叫。

Qiūtiān néng tīng dào xīshuài jiào.

You can hear crickets chirping in autumn.

夜晚的草丛里蟋蟀在鸣唱。

Yèwǎn de cǎocóng lǐ xīshuài zài míngchàng.

Crickets are singing in the grass at night.

那只蟋蟀的叫声很清脆。

Nà zhī xīshuài de jiàoshēng hěn qīngcuì.

That cricket's chirp is very clear and crisp.

小男孩在院子里捉到了一只蟋蟀。

Xiǎo nánhái zài yuànzi lǐ zhuō dào le yī zhī xīshuài.

The little boy caught a cricket in the yard.

蟋蟀的鸣叫声是夏夜的交响乐。

Xīshuài de míngjiào shēng shì xià yè de jiāoxiǎngyuè.

The chirping of crickets is the symphony of a summer night.

他把蟋蟀养在一个小竹笼里。

Tā bǎ xīshuài yǎng zài yī gè xiǎo zhú lóng lǐ.

He keeps the cricket in a small bamboo cage.

蟋蟀的歌声勾起了我童年的回忆。

Xīshuài de gēshēng gōu qǐ le wǒ tóngnián de huíyì.

The cricket's song evokes memories of my childhood.

那微弱如蟋蟀低鸣的声响渐渐消失了。

Nà wēiruò rú xīshuài dī míng de shēngxiǎng jiànjiàn xiāoshī le.

That faint sound, like the low chirp of a cricket, gradually faded away.

Related Characters

Component: 悉

Component: 虫

蟋