(fēng) — bee; wasp; stinging insect (general term)

Definition

noun
beewaspstinging insect (general term)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • Yì zhī fēng fēi jìn le chuāng hu.
    A bee flew into the window.
  • Zhè zhǒng fēng de dú yè hěn qiáng.
    The venom of this type of bee/wasp is very strong.
  • Gōng yuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō fēng zài cǎi mì.
    There are many bees collecting nectar in the park.

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
chónginsect
Sound part声符shēngfú
pángfēng
Same sound today

蜂 puts 虫, showing an insect, beside 夆, which gives its sound.

Appears in

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.