fong3 gwong1 cung4放光蟲放光虫

Jyutpingfong3 gwong1 cung4

Yalefong gwōng chùhng

名詞

Definition

Glowworm, firefly, or any light-emitting insect.

colloquialanimalsnature

How it's used

While 放光蟲 is a descriptive term for any light emitting insect, it is most commonly used by children or in casual conversation to refer to fireflies. The more standard or scientific name for a firefly is 螢火蟲, which is used in formal writing and by adults. Using 放光蟲 adds a sense of wonder or simplicity, as if describing the creature by its most magical feature.

Measure word

zek3隻jek

Examples

cou2草cung4叢jap6入min6面jau5有gei2幾zek3隻fong3放gwong1光cung4蟲fei1飛gan2緊aa4呀。

There are a few glowworms flying in the bushes.

nei5你sai3細go3個jau5有mou5冇zuk1捉gwo3過fong3放gwong1光cung4蟲wun6玩aa4呀？

Did you ever catch glowworms to play with when you were a kid?

Common phrases

zuk1捉fong3放gwong1光cung4蟲

catch glowworms

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with 螢火蟲, which is the standard name. Using 放光蟲 in a formal report or scientific context would sound overly simplistic or childish.