蜕 (tuì) - to molt & to slough

蜕Tone 4

tuì ｜ 13 strokes ｜ radical:

婷婉

蜕 · tuì

to molt;

to slough;

to shed skin;

to transform or metamorphose;

to cast off old habits or beliefs.

to moltto sloughto shed skin

Usage highlights

to molt skincicada moltingto transformto shed the shellmolted skinto cast off

Synonyms

  • 脱— to take off; to shed
  • 换— to change; to exchange
  • 变— to change; to transform

Antonyms

  • 固— solid; fixed; stubborn
  • 守— to guard; to hold fast to

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The snake molts its skin (蛇蜕皮).
  • He has transformed completely (他蜕变了).
  • The cicada sheds its shell (蝉蜕壳).
  • This marks a metamorphosis in his career (这是他职业生涯的蜕变).

Collocations

  • to molt skin(蜕皮)
  • cicada molting(蝉蜕)
  • to transform(蜕变)
  • to shed the shell(蜕壳)
  • molted skin(蜕下的皮)
  • to cast off(蜕去)

Idioms

  • A golden cicada shedding its carapace(金蝉脱壳)
  • To cast off the mortal body and exchange the bones(蜕骨换胎)
  • Transformation and renewal(蜕故孳新)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese culture, molting symbolizes rebirth, transformation, and the shedding of the old to embrace the new.
  • The cicada's molting is a potent symbol of resurrection and immortality, as the insect emerges from the ground, sheds its nymphal skin, and takes flight.
  • The character is often used metaphorically to describe personal growth, breaking free from past limitations, or fundamental change.

FAQ