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蚕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
蚕
cán
silkworm
n, 10 strokes, radical 虫, rank #29547, Very Hard
cán(can2)can T2
1silkworm
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March 24, 2026
蚕(蠶)cán(can2)
The character 蚕 (cán) refers to a silkworm, an important insect in the production of silk. Silkworms are primarily associated with the cultivation of silk in China, where they have been raised for thousands of years. In addition to their agricultural significance, they symbolize prosperity and wealth in Chinese culture.
Strokes10Radical虫Frequency#29547DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, silkworms are integral to silk production, which has been a cornerstone of the economy and artistry in China for millennia. The process of sericulture, or raising silkworms, is celebrated and has historical significance.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'cane' (sounds like cán) made of silk, where silkworms are happily munching on mulberry leaves. The radical 虫 (insect) reminds you that this character is all about bugs, specifically the silkworm that produces silk.
Meanings of 蚕
cán(can2)
1silkworm
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蚕 means.
About 蚕
蚕Simplified
蠶Traditional
10Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蚕
Podcast: 蚕
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AI study notes for 蚕
Usage Notes
When using 蚕, be mindful that it is more commonly used in agricultural or economic contexts. A common mistake is using it in casual conversation when referring to worms in general; 蚕 specifically means silkworm. Avoid confusing it with similar characters that refer to other insects.
HSK Study Tips
While 蚕 is not found in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3 words like 养 (yǎng, to raise) and 茶 (chá, tea), as silkworms are raised for silk production, which is often associated with tea culture in China. Focus on the connection between agriculture and cultural heritage.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蚕 (cán) with other insect-related characters, mistakenly using it to refer to all worms or insects. For instance, saying '蚕是虫' (cán shì huǐ, the silkworm is a bug) is incorrect; it should be '蚕是蚕' (cán shì cán, the silkworm is a silkworm).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蚕
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 蚕 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
蚕 = 虫 + 天. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 蚕
IDS Structure⿱天虫
蚕Full character
=
天tian1
top
虫chong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 蚕?
How to say silkworm in Chinese
“silkworm” in Chinese is蚕cán
The character 蚕 (cán) refers to a silkworm, an important insect in the production of silk. Silkworms are primarily associated with the cultivation of silk in China, where they have been raised for thousands of years. In addition to their agricultural significance, they symbolize prosperity and wealth in Chinese culture.
When to use 蚕
When using 蚕, be mindful that it is more commonly used in agricultural or economic contexts. A common mistake is using it in casual conversation when referring to worms in general; 蚕 specifically means silkworm. Avoid confusing it with similar characters that refer to other insects.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蚕 (cán) with other insect-related characters, mistakenly using it to refer to all worms or insects. For instance, saying '蚕是虫' (cán shì huǐ, the silkworm is a bug) is incorrect; it should be '蚕是蚕' (cán shì cán, the silkworm is a silkworm).
Write 蚕
蚕
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Practice writing 蚕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 蚕
蚕 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
几家制造商也在____食福特公司的传统客户群。
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