蛭 (zhì) — leech (bound form, used in compounds)

Definition

Bound morpheme meaning 'leech' — rarely used alone, almost always appears in compounds like 水蛭 (water leech). The standalone animal name learners will meet is 蚂蟥.

bound form
leech (bound form, used in compounds)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Shuǐ zhì shì yì zhǒng xī xuè dòng wù.
    The leech is a blood-sucking animal.
  • 蛭。
    Yī shēng yòng shuǐ zhì lái zhì bìng.
    Doctors use leeches to treat diseases.
  • 。
    Wǒ zài hé lǐ kàn dào yì tiáo shuǐ zhì.
    I saw a leech in the river.

Origin

Sound + meaning
六书liùshū
形声xíngshēng

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
虫虫chónginsect
Sound part声符shēngfú
至
至zhì蛭zhì
Same sound today

蛭 pairs 虫, showing an insect, with 至, showing the sound.

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