懂中文 Dong Chinese

蚕

cán

silkworms

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 天 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蠶.

Components
虫 meaning component

虫  Meaning component

chóng

  

bug, insect

天 sound component

天  Sound component

tiān

  

sky

Evolution

蚕 Seal script Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)
蚕 Clerical script Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Clerical script

Cao Wei (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)
蚕 Traditional script Modern

Traditional script

Modern
蚕 Simplified script Modern

Simplified script

Modern
Definitions

蚕 (蠶) 

cán

silkworms; silkworm

Most common words with 蚕
Freq.
Word
Meaning

蚕

silkworm

蚕食

fig. to embezzle progressively

蚕丝

natural silk (secreted by silkworm)

蚕豆

fava bean

养蚕

to raise silkworms