() — lizard (bound form, only used in 蜥蜴)

Definition

A bound form meaning 'lizard' that never stands alone — it only appears as the first character of 蜥蜴 (xīyì, 'lizard').

bound form
lizard (bound form, only used in 蜥蜴)

Examples

  • Wǒ zài huā yuán lǐ kàn dào yì zhī xī yì.
    I saw a lizard in the garden.
  • xī Yì xǐ huan zài shí tou shàng shài tài yáng.
    Lizards like to sunbathe on rocks.
  • Zhè zhī xī yì de wěi ba duàn le.
    This lizard's tail is broken.

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
chóngsnake; insect
Sound part声符shēngfú
Same sound today

蜥 uses 虫 for snake or insect and 析 for the sound.

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