螿

kind of cicada

Strokes17

Readings

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螿 refers to a specific kind of cicada. The meaning is narrow and concrete, with no clear abstract extensions.

螿 combines 虫 (insect) with 將, which likely provides the sound. The character was created to name a particular cicada species.

The top 將 looks like a general commanding, and the bottom 虫 is an insect. Picture a general among cicadas, leading a noisy army of them.

For ショウ, imagine a cicada general giving a show: the cicada's loud buzz is its performance. Show -> ショウ.