Definition
蜕皮 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to molt' or 'to shed skin, shell, or exoskeleton'. It is used for animals like snakes, insects, and crustaceans. The verb can be split: you can insert a resultative complement or measure word between 蜕 and 皮, e.g. 蜕了一次皮 ('shed its skin once'). In biology contexts it can also be used as a noun referring to the sloughed-off skin.
v.o.
to moltto shed skinshellor exoskeleton
Examples
- 蜕皮。Shé měi nián dōu yào tuì pí jǐ cì.Snakes molt several times every year.
- 。Zhè zhī chán gāng tuì le yí cì pí.This cicada just molted once.
- 蜕皮。Guānchá kūnchóng tuì pí de guòchéng fēicháng yǒuqù.Watching the molting process of insects is very interesting.
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