蝉鸣
chán​míng

cicada song

蝉 chán cicada Simplified

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 单 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蟬.

Components

虫
虫 Meaning component
chóng bug, insect
单
单 Sound component
dān single

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

鸣 míng cry of bird or animal Simplified

The sound 口 a bird 鸟 makes

Components

口
口 Meaning component
kǒu, kou mouth
鸟
鸟 Meaning component
niǎo bird

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode

蟬 chán cicada Traditional

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 單 represents the sound.

Components

虫
虫 Meaning component
chóng bug, insect
單
單 Sound component
dān single

Character Evolution

Seal form
Seal Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Western Han 202 BC-9 AD
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-Sagartdzyen[d]a[r]cicada
Zhengzhangdjan
Unicodezhiɛn

說文解字

以㫄鳴者。从虫單聲。

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-SagartZhengzhang Shangfang
Historical images
Academia Sinica
Etymology
Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)

鳴 míng cry of bird or animal Traditional

The sound 口 a bird 鳥 makes

Components

口
口 Meaning component
kǒu, kou mouth
鳥
鳥 Meaning component
niǎo bird

Character Evolution

Oracle form
Oracle Bone ~1250-1000 BC
Oracle form
Oracle Bone ~1250-1000 BC
Oracle form
Oracle Bone ~1250-1000 BC
Bronze form
Bronze Late Spring and Autumn ~500 BC
Seal form
Seal Warring States (Chu) 475-221 BC
Seal form
Seal Warring States (Chu) 475-221 BC
Seal form
Seal Shuowen ~100 AD
Clerical form
Clerical Qin 221-206 BC
Regular Modern

Historical Pronunciations

Middle ChineseOld ChineseGloss
Baxter-Sagartmjængm.reŋcry (of birds or animals)
Zhengzhangmreŋ
Unicodemiæng

說文解字

鳥聲也。从鳥从口。

Sources

Readings & variants
Unicode
Historical pronunciations
Baxter-SagartZhengzhang Shangfang
Historical images
Academia Sinica
Etymology
Shuowen Jiezi (說文解字)