蛆
qū
In Chinese, the English phrase "maggots" is translated as 蛆 (qū).
The term refers to the larvae of flies, which are typically found in decaying organic matter.
Which one should you use?
The term 蛆虫 can also be used to mean maggots.
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 蛆 can be used as both a singular and a plural noun in Chinese.
How do you pronounce it?
qū
Did you know?
- In modern Chinese slang, the word 蛆 is sometimes used in gaming communities to describe players who 'camp' or hide in one spot to ambush others, likening them to larvae in the soil.
- While 蛆 refers to fly larvae, the term 虫 in the character is a broad radical that historically included not just insects but also reptiles, amphibians and even dragons.
- The term 蛆 is often used as a derogatory metaphor for people who are perceived as spineless or morally corrupt, similar to calling someone 'a worm' in English.
Examples in context
- 这些东西里面有蛆虫These things contain maggots
- 那些蛆在腐肉上爬。Nàxiē qū zài fùròu shàng pá.Those maggots are crawling on the decaying meat.
- 垃圾桶里有很多蛆。Lājītǒng lǐ yǒu hěnduō qū.There are many maggots in the trash can.
- 我看见了白色的蛆。Wǒ kànjiànle báisè de qū.I saw some white maggots.
Example conversation
Haoran and Xiaowen are cleaning up an old compost pile in the garden.
- 浩然 Haoran小心，这里有很多蛆。Xiǎoxīn, zhèlǐ yǒu hěnduō qū.Be careful, there are many maggots here.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen真恶心，我们要快点清理。Zhēn ěxīn, wǒmen yào kuài diǎn qīnglǐ.That's disgusting, we need to clean this up quickly.
- 浩然 Haoran晓雯，带上那把铲子。Xiǎowén, dài shàng nà bǎ chǎnzi.Xiaowen, grab that shovel.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好的，我这就来。Hǎo de, wǒ zhè jiù lái.Okay, I'm coming now.
