害虫

hàichóng

injurious insect

HSK 7

Character Breakdown

Understanding 害虫 (hàichóng)

The word 害虫 specifically refers to insects or pests that cause harm, especially to crops or plants. It is commonly used in agricultural contexts to discuss pest control and crop protection.

Usage and Context

When you use 害虫, you are usually talking about insects that damage plants or the environment. It often appears in discussions about farming, gardening, or environmental protection.

Common Collocations

  • 防治害虫 (fángzhì hàichóng): pest control, used when talking about methods to prevent or eliminate pests.
  • 害虫繁殖 (hàichóng fánzhí): pest reproduction, referring to how quickly pests multiply.
  • 害虫数量 (hàichóng shùliàng): number of pests, often discussed in relation to pesticide use or infestation levels.

Important Notes

  • 害虫 is a neutral term but often carries a negative connotation because it refers to harmful insects.
  • It is different from (chóng) alone, which can mean any insect or worm without implying harm.
  • When discussing pest control, pairing 害虫 with 防治 or is very common.

Using 害虫 correctly helps you talk about agriculture, gardening, and environmental issues with precision.

Example Sentences

农民们正在努力防治害虫,以保护庄稼不受损失。

Nóngmín men zhèngzài nǔlì fángzhì hàichóng, yǐ bǎohù zhuāngjia bù shòu

The farmers are working hard to control pests to protect the crops from

害虫的繁殖速度非常快,如果不及时处理,可能会导致严重的农作物减产。

Hàichóng de fánzhí sùdù fēicháng kuài, rúguǒ bù jíshí chǔlǐ, kěnéng huì

Pests reproduce very quickly; if not dealt with promptly, they can cause

使用农药可以有效地减少害虫的数量,但要注意环境保护。

Shǐyòng nóngyào kěyǐ yǒuxiào de jiǎnshǎo hàichóng de shùliàng, dàn yào

Using pesticides can effectively reduce the number of pests, but