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虻 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
虻ménghorsefly, gadflyg, 9 strokes, radical 虫
méng(meng2)meng T2
  1. 1horsefly, gadfly
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March 24, 2026

虻méng(meng2)

The character 虻 (méng) refers to a type of fly, specifically a horsefly or gadfly. These insects are known for their painful bites and are often found in rural or outdoor areas, making the term useful in contexts related to nature or animal husbandry.

Strokes9Radical虫
Cultural note

In rural China, horseflies can be a significant nuisance during the summer, affecting both livestock and outdoor activities. The pestering nature of these insects is often reflected in local expressions about annoyance.

Memory tip

Imagine a horsefly buzzing around a horse, making it uncomfortable. The character 虻 looks like a small bug with its wings spread out, and the pronunciation 'méng' can remind you of the sound a fly makes as it hums around.

Meanings of 虻

méng(meng2)
1horsefly, gadfly
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 虻

虻Simplified
9Strokes
虫Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 虻

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Podcast: 虻

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AI study notes for 虻

Usage Notes

This term is generally used in informal contexts, especially in conversations about insects or farming. A common mistake is using 虻 in a metaphorical sense when referring to annoying people; instead, use 令人厌烦 (lìng rén yàn fán) for that context.

HSK Study Tips

Though 虻 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it can enrich your vocabulary for discussions about nature. Focus on related insects and their characteristics when learning this word, as it enhances your understanding of related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 虻 with related characters like 蚊 (wén, mosquito) or 苍蝇 (cāngyíng, fly). Remember, 虻 specifically refers to horseflies, which are larger and more aggressive than mosquitoes.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 虻

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Etymology of 虻

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

insect

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

Origin

虻 = 虫 + 亡. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 虻

IDS Structure⿰虫亡
虻Full character
=
虫chong2
left
亡wang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 虻?

How to say horsefly, gadfly in Chinese

“horsefly, gadfly” in Chinese is虻méng

The character 虻 (méng) refers to a type of fly, specifically a horsefly or gadfly. These insects are known for their painful bites and are often found in rural or outdoor areas, making the term useful in contexts related to nature or animal husbandry.

When to use 虻

This term is generally used in informal contexts, especially in conversations about insects or farming. A common mistake is using 虻 in a metaphorical sense when referring to annoying people; instead, use 令人厌烦 (lìng rén yàn fán) for that context.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 虻 with related characters like 蚊 (wén, mosquito) or 苍蝇 (cāngyíng, fly). Remember, 虻 specifically refers to horseflies, which are larger and more aggressive than mosquitoes.

Write 虻

虻

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

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Word Family of 虻

Words containing this character2
虻ménghorsefly
牛虻gadfly (Tabanus bovinus)
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 虻

What does 牛虻 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 虻

虻 specifically refers to horseflies or gadflies, which are larger and more aggressive than typical houseflies.

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