About
The character "蠖" is structured with the insect radical "虫" on the left and the component "蒦" on the right, where "蒦" functions as a phonetic element that also carries the associative meaning of measurement, referencing the inchworm's distinctive looping movement that resembles a gauging action. Etymologically, the term has consistently denoted the larvae of geometrid moths, known for their method of locomotion by arching the body. The meaning has remained specific to this insect over time, with the character's form and compositional logic staying unchanged, anchored by the radical denoting creature category and the right-hand component providing phonetic and semantic cues.
Etymology Hide
