Meanings of 蛊
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About 蛊
Podcast: 蛊
Podcast: 蛊
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AI Study Notes for 蛊
While 蛊 can refer to poison in general, it is often used in more literary or historical contexts, so avoid casual usage in everyday conversation. Be mindful of the tone; the third tone (gǔ) can easily be confused with similar-sounding words. Collocations include phrases like 蛊惑 (bewitch) and 蛊毒 (poison).
Although 蛊 is not included in the HSK levels, students should note its connections to other words related to poison (毒, dú) and witchcraft (巫, wū). Focus on recognizing its use in classical texts and understanding its implications in folklore.
Learners often confuse 蛊 with similar-sounding words like 鼓 (gǔ, drum) or 古 (gǔ, ancient). Ensure you practice the tone and context to differentiate them clearly. For example, saying '我喜欢蛊' (Wǒ xǐhuān gǔ) instead of '我喜欢古典音乐' (Wǒ xǐhuān gǔdiǎn yīnyuè) can lead to confusion.
Pronunciation of 蛊
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Etymology of 蛊
Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 皿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蠱.
insect
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 蛊
Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 皿 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蠱.
- 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half皿 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 蛊? 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
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Decomposition of 蛊
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How to say poison, venom; to bewitch, to harm in Chinese
“poison, venom; to bewitch, to harm” in Chinese is蛊
The character 蛊 (gǔ) primarily refers to poison or venom, often associated with harmful substances or witchcraft. It can also denote the act of bewitching or causing someone to harm themselves through supernatural means. In historical contexts, it relates to legendary venomous insects and the concept of using poison for malevolent purposes.
When to use 蛊
While 蛊 can refer to poison in general, it is often used in more literary or historical contexts, so avoid casual usage in everyday conversation. Be mindful of the tone; the third tone (gǔ) can easily be confused with similar-sounding words. Collocations include phrases like 蛊惑 (bewitch) and 蛊毒 (poison).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蛊 with similar-sounding words like 鼓 (gǔ, drum) or 古 (gǔ, ancient). Ensure you practice the tone and context to differentiate them clearly. For example, saying '我喜欢蛊' (Wǒ xǐhuān gǔ) instead of '我喜欢古典音乐' (Wǒ xǐhuān gǔdiǎn yīnyuè) can lead to confusion.
Write 蛊
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Word Family of 蛊
Compound Meaning
What does 蛊 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蛊
No, 蛊 is more frequently found in historical texts and folklore rather than in everyday language.
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