蠢 chǔn to wriggle
to wriggle; stupid; clumsy
怎么记住“蠢”: 春 spring + 虫 insect + 虫 insect = to wriggle. In early spring the girl lifts a stone and screams as insect after insect begins to wriggle in the sunlight.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
蠢 = 春 spring + 䖵 insects
- 春 spring sound
- 𡗗 folded hands
- 三 three
- 人 person
- 日 sun
- 𡗗 folded hands
- 䖵 insects meaning
- 虫 insect
- 虫 insect
In early spring the girl lifts a stone and screams as insect after insect begins to wriggle in the sunlight.
How it came to be
The insects give the meaning and spring the sound; the word first meant insects stirring.
用法
- 'Stupid/foolish': 愚蠢 (yúchǔn) stupid, 蠢货 (chǔnhuò) / 蠢材 idiot, 蠢事 (chǔnshì) a foolish act.
- 愚蠢 is blunter and harsher than 笨 (bèn, dumb/clumsy). Original sense 'to wriggle' survives in 蠢蠢欲动 (chǔnchǔn-yùdòng), to itch to act / be restless before making a move.