毒虫

毒蟲

dúchóng

noun #26,751

Measure Word

一只毒虫 zhī

Meanings

1 poisonous insect
2 venomous creature (insect, spider, snake)
3 (slang) drug addict; junkie

Characters

poison; toxic; drugs

insect; worm; creature

Examples

雨林里有很多毒虫，要小心。

Yǔlín lǐ yǒu hěn duō dúchóng, yào xiǎoxīn.

There are many venomous creatures in the rainforest — be careful.

他成了毒虫，整天靠吸毒度日。

Tā chéng le dúchóng, zhěngtiān kào xīdú dùrì.

He became a junkie, living off drugs all day long.

Tips

register

The slang meaning 'drug addict/junkie' (毒虫) is colloquial and derogatory. It draws on 毒 (poison/drugs) + 虫 (insect/creature), implying someone who is enslaved by a toxic substance.

Stroke Order

毒 dú

虫 chóng