蜜蜂
mìfēng/mi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/
The English phrase "bee" is translated into Chinese as 蜜蜂 (mìfēng). Wiktionary also lists 蠟蜂 / 蜡蜂 (làfēng).
Meaning: insect (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 蜜蜂 | mìfēng | /mi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Sinological IPA) /mi⁵¹ fɤ̃ɻ⁵⁵/ (Mandarin, Standard Chinese, Erhua, Sinological IPA, 蜜蜂兒 / 蜜蜂儿) |
|
| 蠟蜂 / 蜡蜂 | làfēng | literary | |
| 蜂 | phang | /pʰaŋ⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Xiamen) /hɔŋ⁴⁴/ (Min Nan, Hokkien, Sinological IPA, Xiamen) |
Hokkien |
The term refers to the insect known as a bee. While 蜜蜂 specifically refers to honey bees, the single character 蜂 can more broadly refer to bees or wasps in certain contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 蜜蜂 (mìfēng) is composed of 蜜 (honey) and 蜂 (bee/wasp).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Hokkien, 蜂 (phang) is used. In Dungan, the forms мифыр (mifɨr), фыр (fɨr) and мифынзы (mifɨnzɨ) are used.
How does it change in a sentence?
The single character 蜂 can be used as a bound morpheme in compound words, such as in 蜜蜂 (mìfēng, honey bee) or 蜂王 (fēngwáng, queen bee).
How do you pronounce it?
mìfēng (mi⁵¹ fɤŋ⁵⁵)
Did you know?
- Chinese uses the word 蜂 to describe certain patterns, such as 蜂窝煤 (beehive briquettes), which are a type of fuel shaped like a honeycomb.
- In Chinese, the term 蜂群 (bee swarm) is often used metaphorically to describe a large, buzzing crowd of people.
- The word 蜂 may have originated as an onomatopoeia, mimicking the actual buzzing sound made by the insect.
Examples in context
- 我刚给蜜蜂蛰了。I've just been stung by a bee.This sentence shows an instance of being stung by the form 蜂.Tatoeba #13887430 by jan_OkulaJu, translation #12579614 by sundown
- 例如，如果沒有蜜蜂授粉，加州的杏仁作物就不會存在。Without bee pollination, California's almond crop, for example, would be non-existent.This sentence discusses the importance of the form 蜂 to pollination and crops.Tatoeba #13544357 by LeviHighway, translation #12346606 by Cangarejo
- 蜜蜂為花卉和樹木授粉，並採集花蜜來製造蜂蜜、蜂膠和蜂毒。Bees pollinate flowers and trees, and collect nectar to make honey, bee glue and bee venom.This sentence describes the biological activities of the form 蜂.Tatoeba #13878137 by LeviHighway, translation #6703979 by Micsmithel
- 我在农场工作，我们养蜜蜂生产蜂蜜。I work on a farm, where we raise bees for honey production.
- 今天公园里有好多蜜蜂。There are so many bees in the park today.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A man and a woman are walking in a garden.
- 佳怡 Jiayi看，那朵花上有蜜蜂。Kàn, nà duǒ huā shàng yǒu mìfēng.Look, there is a bee on that flower.
- 伟 Wei别靠近它，小心被蛰。Bié kàojìn tā, xiǎoxīn bèi zhé.Don't go near it, be careful not to get stung.
- 佳怡 Jiayi我知道，我只是想看看。Wǒ zhīdào, wǒ zhǐshì xiǎng kànkan.I know, I just want to take a look.
- 伟 Wei这些蜜蜂看起来很勤劳。Zhèxiē mìfēng kàn qǐlái hěn qínláo.These bees look very hardworking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bee” translations and entries 蜜蜂, 蜂, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 蜂, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
