When the formation data identifies 虫 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.
← All 214 radical families
Semantic role Phonetic role Radical classification
虫
Radical 142 of 214 · 6 strokes
Insect
chóng
Unicode uses 虫 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is insects, worms; Kangxi radical 142. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.
22 course characters27 character–word links
Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.
The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.
Character index
22 course characters
Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.
Showing 22 characters.
虽suīalthough, even thoughDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Simplified form of 雖. This character originally was used to describe some sort of lizard-like animal. The current meaning is a phonetic loan. The traditional component 隹 was removed for simplification.
- 口Pictographic componentmouth
- 虫Pictographic componentbug; insect; worm
- 隹Removed in simplifiedbird
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 口 + 虫
- Also indexed under
- 口 mouth
HSK words with 虽1 word in this course
蛋dàneggDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 延 represents the sound.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 延Phonetic componentprolong; delay
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 疋 + 虫
HSK words with 蛋3 words in this course
虫chónginsect, worm; molluskDetails+
formation note
Formation: Pictograph of a worm.
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 中
HSK words with 虫1 word in this course
虹hóngrainbowDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 工 represents the sound.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 工Phonetic componentwork; craft
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 工
HSK words with 虹1 word in this course
蛇shésnakeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 它 represents the sound. Originally written as 它.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 它Phonetic componentit
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 它
HSK words with 蛇2 words in this course
蜂fēngbee, wasp, hornetDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: 虫 contributes the broad semantic category “insect”; 夆 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 夆
HSK words with 蜂1 word in this course
蜜mìhoney, nectar; sweetDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 宓 represents the sound.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 宓Phonetic componentstill; silent
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 宓 + 虫
HSK words with 蜜1 word in this course
蝶diébutterflyDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 枼 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蜨.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 枼Phonetic componentflat piece of wood
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 枼
HSK words with 蝶1 word in this course
蝴húbutterflyDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 胡 represents the sound.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 胡Phonetic componentrecklessly, foolishly; wildly
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 胡
HSK words with 蝴1 word in this course
蟲chónginsect, worm; molluskDetails+
pictographic formation
Formation: Triple of 虫.
- 虫Pictographic componentbug; insect; worm
- 虫Pictographic componentbug; insect; worm
- 虫Pictographic componentbug; insect; worm
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫
HSK words with 蟲1 word in this course
蚂mǎant; leechDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 马 represents the sound. Simplified form of 螞.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 马Phonetic componenthorse
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 马
HSK words with 蚂1 word in this course
蚀shíto nibble at, to erode; an eclipseDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: An insect 虫 bite 饣; 饣 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 饣 + 虫
HSK words with 蚀1 word in this course
蚁yǐantDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 义 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蟻.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 义Phonetic componentjustice; righteousness; meaning
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 义
HSK words with 蚁1 word in this course
蛮mánbarbarians; barbarous, rude, savageDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: Like 亦 insects 虫
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 亦 + 虫
HSK words with 蛮1 word in this course
蜡làcandle, wax; maggotDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 昔 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蠟.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 昔Phonetic componentformer times; ancient
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 昔
HSK words with 蜡1 word in this course
蝕shíto nibble at, to erode; an eclipseDetails+
compound formation
Compound formation: An insect 虫 bite 飠; 飠 also provides the pronunciation
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 飠 + 虫
HSK words with 蝕1 word in this course
螞mǎant; leechDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 馬 represents the sound.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 馬Phonetic componenthorse
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 馬
HSK words with 螞1 word in this course
融róngto melt, to fuse; to blend, to harmonizeDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: 鬲 contributes the broad semantic category “cauldron”; 虫 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 鬲 + 虫
HSK words with 融3 words in this course
蟻yǐantDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 義 represents the sound.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 義Phonetic componentjustice; righteousness; meaning
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 義
HSK words with 蟻1 word in this course
蠢chǔnto wriggle; stupid, silly, fatDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: 春 represents the sound. The two 虫 (bug) components represent the meaning.
- 春Phonetic componentspring
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 春 + 虫
HSK words with 蠢1 word in this course
蠟làcandle, wax; maggotDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Semantic–phonetic formation: 虫 contributes the broad semantic category “insect”; 巤 contributes the historical pronunciation.
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 虫 + 巤
HSK words with 蠟1 word in this course
蠻mánbarbarians; barbarous, rude, savageDetails+
semantic–phonetic
Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 䜌 represents the sound.
- 虫Semantic componentbug; insect; worm
- 䜌Phonetic componentchaotic
- Category radical
- 虫 insect
- Visual structure
- 䜌 + 虫
HSK words with 蠻1 word in this course
Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.