螟蛉子

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Chinese

green rice caterpillar; caterpillar of many species, such as the corn earworm or the small white butterfly
child; son; (noun suffix)
child; son; (noun suffix); small thing; seed; egg; 1st earthly branch; 11 p.m.–1 a.m., midnight
 
trad. (螟蛉子) 螟蛉 子
simp. #(螟蛉子) 螟蛉 子

Etymology

See 螟蛉 (mínglíng, “moth larva”).

There was a long-held (but incorrect) belief by the Chinese that moth larvae are carried by wasps (蜾蠃) (thought to be unable to reproduce themselves) to their hives, kept there and raised as if they are the wasps' own offspring.

This has turned out to be a false impression, as the caterpillars are actually taken by the wasps as food for their larvae, but the metaphor of a moth larva or caterpillar for an adopted child has remained.

Pronunciation

Noun

螟蛉子

  1. (literary, figurative) adopted son; adoptive children
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