螱 (wèi) - Termite — refers to a type of wood-eating & also known as white ant.

螱Tone 4

wèi ｜ 17 strokes ｜ radical:

万响

螱 · wèi

Termite — refers to a type of wood-eating insect;

also known as white ant.

Termite — refers to a type of wood-eatingalso known as white ant.

Usage highlights

Termite damageTermite colonyTermite controlTermite nestTermite speciesTermite prevention

Synonyms

  • 白蚁— white ant (common term for termite)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The wooden furniture was damaged by termites (螱).
  • Termite infestation (螱害) can cause structural damage to buildings.
  • Termite colonies (螱群) can contain millions of individuals.
  • Professional termite control (螱防治) is often necessary.

Collocations

  • Termite damage(螱害)
  • Termite colony(螱群)
  • Termite control(螱防治)
  • Termite nest(螱巢)
  • Termite species(螱种)
  • Termite prevention(螱预防)

Idioms

  • Like termites hollowing out a dike(螱穴溃堤)
  • Termites gnawing at the foundation(螱蛀基础)
  • Hidden termites in the beam(梁中隐螱)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Termites are often used metaphorically in Chinese to describe hidden dangers or gradual destruction.
  • In traditional Chinese culture, termites symbolize something that destroys from within, often going unnoticed until significant damage occurs.
  • The character 螱 is considered a rare character in modern usage, with 白蚁 being the more common term for termite.

FAQ