虻 (méng) - Horsefly & gadfly

虻Tone 2

méng ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

伦妙

虻 · méng

Horsefly;

gadfly;

refers to various biting flies in the family Tabanidae.

Horseflygadflyrefers to various biting flies in the family

Usage highlights

HorseflyGadflyDeer flyFly biteFly repellentFly species

Synonyms

  • 蝇— fly (general term)
  • 蚊— mosquito

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The horsefly (牛虻) bit the horse.
  • He was stung by a gadfly (被虻叮了).
  • There are many horseflies near the swamp (沼泽边有很多虻).

Collocations

  • Horsefly(牛虻)
  • Gadfly(虻虫)
  • Deer fly(鹿虻)
  • Fly bite(虻叮)
  • Fly repellent(防虻剂)
  • Fly species(虻科)

Idioms

  • Like a gadfly(如虻附体)
  • Gadfly's sting(虻之刺)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese tradition, the gadfly is often used metaphorically to represent a persistent annoyance or critic.
  • The character appears in classical texts describing insects that bother livestock and humans.

FAQ