Chinese word

苍蝇

Pronunciation

Pinyincāng yíng

Meaning

  • nounfly

Example

桌子上有苍蝇。zhuō zi shàng yǒu cāng yíng

There is a fly on the table.

Illustration for 苍蝇 (fly)

More examples

厨房食物裸露，很容易招来苍蝇。chú fáng shí wù luǒ lù hěn róng yì zhāo lái cāng yíng

Food left uncovered in the kitchen easily attracts flies.

Core concept

A quick, unwelcome flier around human food and living spaces.

Common phrases

  • 拍死苍蝇pāi sǐ cāng yíng

    kill a fly by swatting it

  • 捕捉苍蝇bǔ zhuō cāng yíng

    capture a fly

  • 被苍蝇叮咬bèi cāng yíng dīng yǎo

    be bitten by a fly

Similar words

昆虫kūn chóng: A group of usually small animals with six legs and, in many cases, wings.
蚊子wén zi: A tiny flying insect that pierces skin to drink blood and may cause itching or illness.
害虫hài chóng: A harmful insect or small animal that damages crops, belongings, or people's health.
飞虫fēi chóng: A broad term for small flying insects, including those that sometimes gather near food.

Definition in Chinese

一种常见的家居飞虫，体小且飞行迅速，常出现在窗台、餐桌或垃圾附近，会令人感到不适并可能污染食物。yì zhǒng cháng jiàn de jiā jū fēi chóng tǐ xiǎo qiě fēi xíng xùn sù cháng chū xiàn zài chuāng tái cān zhuō huò lā jī fù jìn huì lìng rén gǎn dào bú shì bìng kě néng wū rǎn shí wù

Word origin

The name 苍蝇 (cāngyíng, "fly") pairs 苍 (cāng, "blue-gray") with 蝇 (yíng, "fly"), but the full pair is an established name rather than a description of the insect's color.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the English word "fly," 苍蝇 (cāngyíng, "fly") refers to the insect, not to moving through the air; the action is expressed by a different Chinese verb.

Related words

  • 苍蝇拍cāng yíng pāifly swatternoun
  • 苍蝇幼虫cāng yíng yòu chóngfly larvanoun

Word lists with this word