蝜蝂

fùbǎn

noun

Meanings

1 fubian (a small beetle in Liu Zongyuan's allegory that piles things on its back until crushed)

Characters

fubian (first syllable); related to 负 'to bear'

fubian (second syllable)

Examples

HSK 6

他像蝜蝂一样，背负的越来越重。

Tā xiàng fùbǎn yīyàng, bēifù de yuèláiyuè zhòng.

Like a fubian, the load on his back grows ever heavier.

HSK 7-9

柳宗元写《蝜蝂传》借这种小虫讽喻贪得无厌之人。

Liǔ Zōng yuán xiě 《 Fùbǎn Zhuàn 》 jiè zhèzhǒng xiǎo chóng fěng yù tāndéwúyàn zhī rén.

Liu Zongyuan wrote 'The Tale of Fubian' to use this little creature as an allegory for the insatiably greedy.

Tips

history

From Tang dynasty writer Liu Zongyuan's 《蝜蝂传》 (Tale of the Fubian): a tiny beetle that picks up anything it meets and piles it on its back, refusing to drop the load even when climbing, until it is finally crushed. A classic satire on greed for office and wealth.

Stroke Order

蝜 fù

蝂 bǎn