蛆虫 (qū chóng) — maggot; (figurative, derogatory) a shameless or… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literally 'maggot' (the larva of a fly). Used figuratively and very derogatorily to call a shameless, despicable person — stronger than insults like 混蛋 or 坏人.

noun

maggot(figurative, derogatory) a shameless or base person

Measure word · 条

Examples

蛆虫。
Zhè xiē fǔ làn de shí wù shàng pá mǎn le qū chóng.
These rotten foods are crawling with maggots.
，蛆虫。
Tā bèi pàn péng you, zhēn shì gè qū chóng.
He betrayed his friends; he's really a maggot.
蛆虫。
Nà xiē tān wū de guān yuán jiù shì shè huì de qū chóng.
Those corrupt officials are the maggots of society.

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.

蛆qūmaggot

The parts give 蛆 maggot and 虫 worm, naming a maggot.

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.

虫且蛆

Meaning part形符xíngfú

虫虫chónginsect

Sound part声符shēngfú

且

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

蛆 combines 虫, meaning insect, with 且, which gives 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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