Meanings of 虱
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About 虱
Podcast: 虱
Podcast: 虱
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AI Study Notes for 虱
虱 (louse) vs 蚤 (flea) — choose 虱 when referring specifically to lice, while 蚤 refers to fleas, which are different types of parasites.
This word is generally used in informal contexts related to hygiene or discussions about pests. A common mistake is to confuse 虱 with similar insects; be sure to specify that it refers specifically to lice. It's often used in compound words like 虱子 (shīzi) to refer to lice in a more colloquial manner.
While 虱 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it may appear in more advanced reading materials. Students should focus on recognizing its radicals and understanding related terms about insects and hygiene as they progress.
Learners often confuse 虱 with other similar insects like 蚊 (wén) meaning 'mosquito'. Remember that 虱 specifically refers to lice, not mosquitoes or other bugs.
Pronunciation of 虱
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Etymology of 虱
insect
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 虱
- 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half乙 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawayinsect
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 虱? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 虱?
Decomposition of 虱
Identify the Components
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How to say bug, louse, parasite in Chinese
“bug, louse, parasite” in Chinese is虱
The character 虱 (shī) refers to a type of small parasitic insect, specifically a louse. Commonly used to describe lice found on humans or animals, it can also imply a nuisance or an undesirable pest in a broader context.
When to use 虱
This word is generally used in informal contexts related to hygiene or discussions about pests. A common mistake is to confuse 虱 with similar insects; be sure to specify that it refers specifically to lice. It's often used in compound words like 虱子 (shīzi) to refer to lice in a more colloquial manner.
虱 or something close to it
虱 (louse) vs 蚤 (flea) — choose 虱 when referring specifically to lice, while 蚤 refers to fleas, which are different types of parasites.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 虱 with other similar insects like 蚊 (wén) meaning 'mosquito'. Remember that 虱 specifically refers to lice, not mosquitoes or other bugs.
Write 虱
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Practice writing 虱 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 虱
虱 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
“那是一种粉____，对吗？”——“是的，是粉虱。”
"That's a type of whitefly, is it?"— 'Yes. it is a whitefly.'
Example Sentences for 虱 (3)
Word Family of 虱
Compound Meaning
What does 虱子 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 虱
Common phrases include 虱子 (shīzi) for 'lice' and 虱病 (shībìng) which means 'louse infestation'.
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