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虮 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
nits, liceg, 8 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
nymph of louseunknown, 8 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
(ji3) T3
  1. 1nits, lice
  2. 2nymph of louse
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(蟣)(ji3)

The character 虮 (jǐ) refers to the nymph stage of lice, specifically the immature form before they become adult lice. It is a less commonly used term and is often encountered in entomological contexts or discussions about pests. Understanding this term requires some familiarity with the life cycle of lice and related insects.

Strokes8RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about lice and other pests can be tied to traditional sayings about cleanliness and personal hygiene. The character 虮 may appear in medical texts or folk remedies concerning lice treatment.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny creature, the 虮 (jǐ), crawling on a hair strand. The character resembles a bug in its shape, with the two horizontal lines suggesting its tiny legs. To remember the pronunciation, think of 'ji' as 'gee!' when you discover lice in your hair.

Meanings of 虮

(ji3)
1nits, lice
2nymph of louse
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 虮

Simplified
Traditional
8Strokes
Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 虮

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 虮

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tiny creature, the 虮 (jǐ), crawling on a hair strand. The character resembles a bug in its shape, with the two horizontal lines suggesting its tiny legs. To remember the pronunciation, think of 'ji' as 'gee!' when you discover lice in your hair.

Usage Notes

This term is quite specific and may not be used in everyday conversation. Be cautious as it can sound formal or academic; in everyday language, you might simply refer to lice. Also, avoid confusing it with other similar terms related to insects.

HSK Study Tips

Although 虮 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it could be useful for students interested in biology or pest control. Focus on the life stages of insects to better understand this term's context and usage.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, discussions about lice and other pests can be tied to traditional sayings about cleanliness and personal hygiene. The character 虮 may appear in medical texts or folk remedies concerning lice treatment.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 虮 with 虱 (shī), which means lice in general. For example, saying '我有虮' (Wǒ yǒu jǐ) instead of '我有虱' (Wǒ yǒu shī) would be incorrect unless referring specifically to nymphs.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 虮

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Etymology of 虮

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

insect

Semantic (meaning)
+
Phonetic (sound)
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 虮?

Decomposition of 虮

IDS Structure⿰虫几
Full Character
=
chong2
left
ji1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 虮?

Write 虮

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 虮

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, discussions about lice and other pests can be tied to traditional sayings about cleanliness and personal hygiene. The character 虮 may appear in medical texts or folk remedies concerning lice treatment.

Word Family of 虮

Words Containing This Character1
nymph of louse
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 虮 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 虮

No, 虮 is mainly used in specialized contexts, like biology or entomology.