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耵 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
耵dīngearwaxn, 8 strokes, radical 耳
耵dīngcerumenunknown, 8 strokes, radical 耳
dīng(ding1) T1
  1. 1earwax
  2. 2cerumen
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

耵dīng(ding1)

The character 耵 (dīng) refers to earwax or cerumen, which is the natural substance produced in the ear canal. It plays a role in protecting the ear from dust and microorganisms, but excessive accumulation can lead to discomfort or hearing issues. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about personal hygiene.

Strokes8Radical耳
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, earwax is viewed as a natural body secretion that has protective qualities, reflecting a holistic approach to health that emphasizes balance and natural processes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny 'ding' sound when you clean your ears, connecting the character 耵 to the idea of earwax. The radical 耳, meaning 'ear,' helps you remember that this term is related to something found in your ears.

Meanings of 耵

dīng(ding1)
1earwax
2cerumen
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 耵

耵Simplified
8Strokes
耳Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 耵

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Podcast: 耵

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AI Study Notes for 耵

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 耵 in casual conversations, as it may be considered a bit clinical or specific. Common collocations include 耵聹 (dīng níng), which means 'earwax blockage,' and it's important to use the correct tone: 'dīng' with a high tone. Avoid confusing it with similar sounding terms.

HSK Study Tips

Although 耵 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it connects to other medical or hygiene-related terms that learners may encounter in advanced studies. Focus on understanding how this word fits within health-related discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 耵 with other characters related to the ear, such as 耳 (ěr), which means 'ear.' Always remember that 耵 specifically refers to earwax, not the ear itself.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 耵

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Etymology of 耵

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

ear

Semantic (meaning)耳
+
Phonetic (sound)丁
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 耵

  1. 1The meaning half耳 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half丁 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayear
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 耵? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 耵?

Decomposition of 耵

IDS Structure⿰耳丁
耵Full Character
=
耳er3
left
丁Ding1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 耵?

How to say earwax in Chinese

“earwax” in Chinese is耵dīng

The character 耵 (dīng) refers to earwax or cerumen, which is the natural substance produced in the ear canal. It plays a role in protecting the ear from dust and microorganisms, but excessive accumulation can lead to discomfort or hearing issues. This term is often used in medical contexts or discussions about personal hygiene.

When to use 耵

Be cautious when using 耵 in casual conversations, as it may be considered a bit clinical or specific. Common collocations include 耵聹 (dīng níng), which means 'earwax blockage,' and it's important to use the correct tone: 'dīng' with a high tone. Avoid confusing it with similar sounding terms.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 耵 with other characters related to the ear, such as 耳 (ěr), which means 'ear.' Always remember that 耵 specifically refers to earwax, not the ear itself.

Write 耵

耵

Practice writing 耵 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 耵

Words Containing This Character2
耵聍earwax耵聹
耵dīngcerumen
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 耵聍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 耵

The correct pronunciation is 'dīng' with a high tone.

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