螫 (shì) — to sting (as by a bee, scorpion, etc.)

Definition

verb
to sting (as by a bee, scorpion, etc.)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 螫。
    Tā bèi mì fēng shì shāng le.
    He was stung by a bee.
  • ，螫。
    Xiǎo xīn, nà zhī xiē zi huì shì shāng rén.
    Be careful, that scorpion can sting people.
  • 螫。
    Zhè zhǒng chóng zi bú huì shì shāng rén.
    This kind of insect doesn't sting people.

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
虫虫chóngbug
Sound part声符shēngfú
赦
赦shè螫shì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

螫 pairs 虫, a bug, with 赦, which supplies the sound.

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