金龟子 (jīn guī zǐ) — scarab beetle; dung beetle

Definition

noun

scarab beetledung beetle

Measure word · 只

金龟子。
Xiǎo péng yǒu zài huā yuán lǐ fā xiàn le yì zhī jīn guī zǐ.
The child found a scarab beetle in the garden.
金龟子。
jīn guī zǐ Zài nóng tián lǐ néng bāng zhù fēn jiě dòng wù fèn biàn.
Dung beetles help decompose animal waste in farmland.
金龟子。
Zhè zhǒng jīn guī zǐ de ké zài yáng guāng xià shǎn shǎn fā guāng.
The shell of this scarab beetle glitters in the sunlight.

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.

金龟golden turtle

偏正Modifier + head

子zǐnoun suffix

金 and 龟 suggest a golden turtle-like shape, while 子 completes the beetle's 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.

金 was drawn with marks for two pieces of metal, along with a part that gave its sound; it first meant copper, then metals and gold.

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 龜; 龟 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 龜 came from a drawing of a turtle seen from the side and above; the simplified 龟 is a later abbreviation.

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.