蛾子 (é zi) — moth | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

moth

Measure word · 只

蛾子。
Wǎn shàng dēng páng biān fēi zhe hěn duō é zi.
There are many moths flying around the lamp at night.
蛾子。
Zhè zhǒng é zi de chì bǎng shàng yǒu piào liang de tú àn.
This kind of moth has beautiful patterns on its wings.
蛾子。
Tā shōu jí le gè zhǒng é zi de biāo běn.
He collected specimens of various moths.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

蛾 points to the moth, while 子 completes the everyday name.

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.

虫我蛾

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

我

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape of 蛾 combines 虫, an insect, with 我, which gives the sound.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

子 is drawn as a baby with a large head, arms stretched out, and legs wrapped in a blanket.