虫
chóng
The Chinese word for worm is 虫 (chóng).
The term 虫 refers to a worm or an insect. While it can describe a worm, it is often used in more formal or scientific contexts, such as in compound words.
Meaning: animal (noun)
Which one should you use?
Depending on the situation, you may use different forms: 蠕虫 is a formal term for worm, while 小虫子 is an informal way to say worm. If you want to be more precise and are specifically referring to an insect, the term 昆虫 is used instead of 虫.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Cantonese, the standard term for worm is 虫.
How does it change in a sentence?
In spoken Chinese, the suffix 子 (zi) is frequently added to 虫 to form the common noun 虫子 (chóngzi).
How do you pronounce it?
chóng
Did you know?
- There is a traditional Chinese belief that certain 虫 could be 'invisible' spirits that caused sudden moods or temper tantrums in children.
- In many Chinese medical traditions, the concept of 'worms' or 虫 refers not just to physical animals, but to specific types of internal pathogens or even certain types of emotional imbalances.
- In Chinese, the character 虫 serves as a radical in hundreds of other characters, such as 蛋 (egg) or 蚊 (mosquito), grouping many different organisms into one category.
Examples in context
- 乌鸫在绿草中发现了一条小红虫。The blackbird found a little red worm in the green grass.This sentence shows the use of 虫 to describe a small red worm found in grass.Tatoeba #10752798 by GlossaMatik, translation #2509057 by rackam
- 早起的鸟儿有虫吃。The early bird catches the worm.This sentence uses 虫 in a common Chinese proverb.Tatoeba #411636 by fucongcong, translation #2348 by al_ex_an_der
- 我在花园里找到一条蚯蚓。I found a worm in the garden.
- 小心点，苹果里有虫子。Be careful, there are worms in the apple.
- 这些书被书虫给侵蚀了。These books are infested with bookworms.
- 地上有一条小虫。Dìshàng yǒu yī tiáo xiǎo chóng.There is a small worm on the ground.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two children are looking at the garden soil.
- 浩然 Haoran雨婷，快看，这有一条虫！Yǔtíng, kuài kàn, zhè yǒu yī tiáo chóng!Yuting, look quickly, there is a worm here!
- 雨婷 Yuting天哪，它在动。Tiān na, tā zài dòng.Oh my, it is moving.
- 浩然 Haoran别怕，浩然会把它赶走的。Bié pà, Hàorán huì bǎ tā gǎn zǒu de.Don't be afraid, Haoran will chase it away.
- 雨婷 Yuting谢谢你，浩然。Xièxiè nǐ, Hàorán.Thank you, Haoran.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
