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.
Imagine a tiny bug (虱) that is so small it's like a 'sheep in disguise' (shī sounds like 'sheep'). The '虫' radical suggests it's an insect, and you can picture a louse hiding in the wool of a sheep, causing irritation.
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.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the presence of 虱 is often linked to poor hygiene, and there are various herbal remedies mentioned in historical texts for treating lice infestations.
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
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 虱?
Decomposition of 虱
Identify the Components
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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)
Cultural Notes for 虱
In traditional Chinese medicine, the presence of 虱 is often linked to poor hygiene, and there are various herbal remedies mentioned in historical texts for treating lice infestations.
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'.