蛀虫 (zhù chóng) — moth or beetle larva that eats clothes, wood, o… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A "borer" or "bookworm" — the larva (moth or beetle) that eats holes in clothes, wood, or books. Extended metaphorically for someone who quietly harms an organization from within (e.g. a corrupt insider).

noun

moth or beetle larva that eats clothes, wood, or books

Measure word · 只

Examples

蛀虫。
Zhè zhǒng zhù chóng huì yǎo huài nǐ de máo yī.
This kind of moth can ruin your sweater.
蛀虫。
Zhè xiē zhù chóng bǎ shū zhù huài le.
These bookworms have damaged the books.
蛀虫。
Fàng yì xiē yào kě yǐ fáng zhù chóng.
Putting some insecticide can prevent moths.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

蛀zhùbore through

虫chónginsect

蛀 (bore through) describes an insect that eats holes in materials, such as a moth larva.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

虫主蛀

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

主

主zhǔ蛀⁰zhù

Same sound today

蛀 pairs 虫 and 主, with 主 giving the sound.

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 蟲; 虫 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 蟲 is the one the reference discusses; 虫 is also a traditional character on its own.

Appears in

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