xiā

shrimp

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Components
虫 meaning component

  Meaning component

chóng

  

bug, insect

下 sound component

  Sound component

xià

  

under

Evolution

虾 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
虾 Clerical script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
虾 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
虾 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

() 

xiā

shrimp, prawn; shrimp; prawn

() 

see 蝦蟆|虾蟆[há​ma]

Most common words with 虾
Freq.
Word
Meaning

shrimp

龙虾

lobster

虾米

small shrimp

大虾

prawn

虾仁

shrimp meat