蚼 (gǒu) - A type of ant & also refers to a mythical dog-like creature in

蚼Tone 3

gǒu ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

蚼 · gǒu

A type of ant;

also refers to a mythical dog-like creature in ancient texts.

A type of antalso refers to a mythical dog-like creature in

Usage highlights

蚼蚁蚼犬玄蚼蚼虫

Synonyms

  • 蚁— ant (more common term)
  • 蚂蚁— ant (standard term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The ancient text mentions a 蚼蚁 (ant).
  • Some legends describe a 蚼犬 (mythical dog).
  • In zoological classification, it refers to a species of ant (蚼).

Collocations

  • ant(蚼蚁)
  • mythical dog(蚼犬)
  • black ant(玄蚼)
  • ant insect(蚼虫)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in ancient Chinese texts like《尔雅》 and《山海经》 as both a real insect and mythical creature.
  • The mythical 蚼 was described as a dog-like animal that could understand human speech.
  • Rarely used in modern Chinese except in classical literature or specialized entomological contexts.

FAQ