虫 (chóng) - insect, worm, bug & also refers to certain reptiles and small creatures

虫Tone 2

chóng ｜ 6 strokes ｜ radical: 虫

橙丁

虫 · chóng

insect, worm, bug;

also refers to certain reptiles and small creatures in traditional Chinese classification.

insect, worm, bugalso refers to certain reptiles and small creatures

Usage highlights

insectwormpestbeneficial insectinsecticidesilkworm

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 鸟— bird (predator of insects)
  • 兽— beast, large animal

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There is a worm on the leaf (虫子).
  • The butterfly is an insect (昆虫).
  • He is afraid of bugs (怕虫).
  • Silkworms produce silk (蚕虫).

Collocations

  • insect(昆虫)
  • worm(虫子)
  • pest(害虫)
  • beneficial insect(益虫)
  • insecticide(杀虫剂)
  • silkworm(蚕虫)

Idioms

  • A mantis stalking a cicada, unaware of the oriole behind(螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后)
  • Like a silkworm spinning silk(作茧自缚)
  • A centipede has a hundred legs but can be killed by one blow(百足之虫，死而不僵)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In ancient Chinese zoology, '虫' was a broad category including insects, reptiles, and other small creatures.
  • The character appears in many Chinese idioms and fables, often representing small but significant forces.
  • In traditional medicine, certain insects are used for their medicinal properties.

FAQ