蟟 (liáo) - Used in the word '知了 (zhīliǎo)' for cicada & also appears in the name of a type

蟟Tone 2

liáo ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

嘹林

蟟 · liáo

Used in the word '知了 (zhīliǎo)' for cicada;

also appears in the name of a type of cicada '蛁蟟 (diāoliáo)'.

Used in the word '知了 (zhīliǎo)' for cicadaalso appears in the name of a type

Usage highlights

Cicada蛁蟟 cicadaCicada shellCicada chirpingCicada catchingSummer cicada

Synonyms

  • 蝉— cicada (more formal term)
  • 知了— cicada (common term, onomatopoeic)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sound of cicadas (知了叫声) fills the summer air.
  • We found a cicada shell (蝉蜕) on the tree.
  • The蛁蟟 (diāoliáo) is a specific type of cicada.
  • Children enjoy catching cicadas (捉知了).

Collocations

  • Cicada(知了)
  • 蛁蟟 cicada(蛁蟟)
  • Cicada shell(蝉蜕)
  • Cicada chirping(蝉鸣)
  • Cicada catching(捉知了)
  • Summer cicada(夏蟟)

Idioms

  • The Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell(金蝉脱壳)
  • Like a cicada in freezing weather(噤若寒蝉)
  • Cicada wings and cicada shirts(蝉翼蝉衣)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Cicadas are prominent in Chinese culture, symbolizing rebirth and immortality due to their life cycle of emerging from the ground.
  • In ancient times, cicadas were associated with purity and high virtue because they subsist only on dew.
  • The character 蟟 is rarely used alone and almost always appears in the compound 知了 for cicada or 蛁蟟 for a specific cicada species.

FAQ