螟蛉

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• 螟蛉

Reduplicated from *mliŋ according to Li Fang-Kuei apud Schuessler (2007).

While Pittayaporn (2009) proposes that Proto-Tai *m.leːŋᴬ (“insect”) is loaned from either early or late Middle Chinese, Schuessler (2007) proposes the reverse loan-direction: i.e. from Tai into Chinese (see also Li (1976)).

螟蛉

1. green rice caterpillar (Naranga aenescens); (in general) caterpillar of many Lepidoptera species, such as the corn earworm or the small white butterfly (which destroy rice and other plants)

   • 螟蛉有子，蜾蠃負之。教誨爾子，式穀似之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, trad.]
     螟蛉有子，蜾蠃负之。教诲尔子，式谷似之。 [Pre-Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11^th – 7^th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Mínglíng yǒu zǐ, guǒluǒ fù zhī. Jiàohuì ěr zǐ, shìgǔ sì zhī.

     The mulberry insect has young ones,
     And the sphex carries them away.
     Teach and train your sons,
     And they will become good as you are.

   • 螟蛉之子殪，而逢蜾蠃。祝之曰：「類我，類我。」久則肖之矣！速哉，七十子之肖仲尼也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     螟蛉之子殪，而逢蜾蠃。祝之曰：「类我，类我。」久则肖之矣！速哉，七十子之肖仲尼也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Yang Xiong, Fa Yan (Exemplary Sayings), 9 CE

     Mínglíng zhī zǐ yì, ér féng guǒluǒ. Zhù zhī yuē: “Lèi wǒ, lèi wǒ.” Jiǔ zé xiào zhī yǐ! Sù zāi, qīshí zǐ zhī xiào Zhòngní yě.

     The dying moth larva encountered the wasp. The wasp snatched it away saying, “Be like me, be like me.”
     After a while, they were alike. How quickly it is, that the seventy disciples became like Confucius!

2. (literary, figurative) Short for 螟蛉子 (mínglíngzǐ, “adopted son”).

Others:

• →? Proto-Tai: *m.leːŋᴬ (“insect”)

From Middle Chinese 螟蛉 (MC meng leng).

• (Tokyo) めーれー (Heiban – )^[1]
• IPA^(key):

螟(めい)蛉(れい) • (meirei) 

1. Synonym of 青虫 (aomushi): any butterfly or moth larvae that are colored green
2. (figurative) Synonym of 養子 (yōshi): an adopted child