yǎn
蝘
cicada (archaic)
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
cicada; a type of cicada mentioned in ancient texts
archaicAn archaic term found in classical literature, specifically referring to certain types of cicadas, often equated with the 'cold cicada' (寒蝉). It is rarely used in modern spoken Chinese except in literary or academic contexts.
《
Shī诗
Jīng经
》
zhōng中
tí提
dào到
de的
yǎn蝘
jí即
wéi为
chán蝉
de的
yī一
zhǒng种
。
The 'yan' mentioned in the Book of Songs is a type of cicada.
Gǔ古
rén人
suǒ所
wèi谓
yǎn蝘
，
jīn今
wèi谓
zhī之
hán寒
chán蝉
yě也
。
What the ancients called 'yan' is today called the cold cicada.
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Cǐ此
kūn昆
chóng虫
zài在
gǔ古
jí籍
zhōng中
míng名
wéi为
yǎn蝘
，
cháng常
qī栖
xī息
yú于
qiū秋
hòu后
de的
shù树
zhī枝
shàng上
。
This insect was named 'yan' in ancient books, often dwelling on tree branches in late autumn.