蟲 (chóng) - Insect & worm

蟲Tone 2

chóng ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

橙丁

蟲 · chóng

Insect;

worm;

bug;

refers to various small invertebrate animals, especially arthropods;

also used metaphorically for insignificant or contemptible things.

Insectwormbug

Usage highlights

InsectWormParasiteBookwormSilkwormLarva

Synonyms

  • 昆虫— insect (more scientific term)
  • 虫子— bug, worm (colloquial)

Antonyms

  • 鸟— bird (predator of insects)
  • 兽— beast, large animal (contrast with small insects)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • There are many insects in the garden (花园里有很多虫).
  • Silkworms produce silk (蚕虫吐丝).
  • He has a parasitic infection (他肚子里有寄生虫).
  • The bookworm spends all day reading (书虫整天读书).

Collocations

  • Insect(昆虫)
  • Worm(蠕虫)
  • Parasite(寄生虫)
  • Bookworm(书虫)
  • Silkworm(蚕虫)
  • Larva(幼虫)

Idioms

  • A mantis trying to stop a chariot — overestimating one's own strength(螳臂当车)
  • Like an ant on a hot pan — extremely anxious(热锅上的蚂蚁)
  • A bee producing honey and a silkworm producing silk — hard work and self-sacrifice(蜂酿蜜，蚕吐丝)
  • A praying mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind — covet gains ahead without being aware of danger behind(螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In traditional Chinese culture, insects were often seen as symbols of transformation and rebirth, particularly silkworms and cicadas.
  • The character appears in many classical texts describing the natural world and was one of the radical categories in ancient dictionaries.
  • Insects have both positive associations (silkworms for silk production) and negative ones (pests that damage crops).

FAQ