蝎 (xiē) — scorpion
Definition
蝎 (xiē) is a bound morph meaning 'scorpion'; in modern Chinese it almost always appears as the suffix 蝎子. Not a standalone word.
bound form
scorpion
Easily confused
- 揭jiēlook-aliketo take the lid off; to uncover
- 些xiēsound-alike(classifier) some, a few, several (used after 一, 这, 那, or alone to indicate an indefinite number)
- 谒yèlook-aliketo pay a formal visit to (a superior, elder, or a site) in a respectful manner
- 歇xiēsound-aliketo rest, to take a break
- 褐hèlook-alike(biology, geology, etc.) brown (used in compounds such as 褐色, 褐煤, 褐铁矿)
- 楔xiēsound-alike(bound form) wedge (a tool)
Examples
- 。Shā mò lǐ yǒu yì zhǒng jù dú de xiē zi.There is a highly venomous scorpion in the desert.
- ，。Tā bèi xiē zi zhē le yí xià, téng dé zhí jiào.He was stung by a scorpion and screamed in pain.
- ，。Zhōng yī lǐ, xiē zi kě yǐ rù yào.In traditional Chinese medicine, scorpions can be used as medicine.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 蠍; 蝎 is its simplified writing.
The traditional form 蠍 combines 虫 with 歇, a sound part; this describes 蠍, not the simplified 蝎.
Appears in
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