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蛛 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛛zhūspidern, 12 strokes, radical 虫, rank #16246, Very Hard
zhū(zhu1)zhu T1
  1. 1spider
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March 24, 2026

蛛zhū(zhu1)

The character 蛛 (zhū) specifically refers to a spider, a creature known for its ability to weave webs. It is commonly used in more formal contexts or in combination with other characters, such as 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū), which means 'spider' in a more general sense. This character evokes the image of a spider and is often used in discussions about nature or biology.

Strokes12Radical虫Frequency#16246DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, spiders are sometimes seen as symbols of wealth and good luck, often associated with bringing fortune to households. This belief may influence how the character 蛛 is perceived in various contexts.

Memory tip

Imagine a spider (蛛) that dangles from a web, weaving intricate patterns. The character has the radical 虫 (insect) on the left, reminding you that it is an insect, and the right side resembles a web being spun, linking the imagery to its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 蛛

zhū(zhu1)
1spider
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蛛 means.

About 蛛

蛛Simplified
12Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛛

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Podcast: 蛛

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AI Study Notes for 蛛

Usage Notes

While 蛛 is not commonly used alone in everyday conversation, it can appear in more specific or scientific discussions. Be careful with pronunciation; the 'zh' sound can be tricky for learners. It is often paired with 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū), so remember that using it alone may sound formal or technical.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蛛 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is related to the HSK Level 1 word 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū). Focus on recognizing this character within the context of discussions about animals or nature, as it can enrich your vocabulary in those areas.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 蛛 with other similar characters like 虫 (insect), which can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, saying '我看到虫' (wǒ kàn dào huǐ) when wanting to say 'I saw a spider' should be corrected to '我看到蛛'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛛

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Etymology of 蛛

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 朱 represents the sound.

Memory hint

insect

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

Origin

蛛 = 虫 + 朱. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蛛

IDS Structure⿰虫朱
蛛Full character
=
虫chong2
left
朱Zhu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蛛?

How to say spider in Chinese

“spider” in Chinese is蛛zhū

The character 蛛 (zhū) specifically refers to a spider, a creature known for its ability to weave webs. It is commonly used in more formal contexts or in combination with other characters, such as 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū), which means 'spider' in a more general sense. This character evokes the image of a spider and is often used in discussions about nature or biology.

When to use 蛛

While 蛛 is not commonly used alone in everyday conversation, it can appear in more specific or scientific discussions. Be careful with pronunciation; the 'zh' sound can be tricky for learners. It is often paired with 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū), so remember that using it alone may sound formal or technical.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 蛛 with other similar characters like 虫 (insect), which can lead to misunderstandings. For instance, saying '我看到虫' (wǒ kàn dào huǐ) when wanting to say 'I saw a spider' should be corrected to '我看到蛛'.

Write 蛛

蛛

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

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Grammar Patterns of 蛛

蛛 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.

有人能想出一种不会破坏生态环境而又能够赶跑蜘____的办法吗?

Can anyone suggest a method of deterring spiders which is ecologically sound?

Example Sentences for 蛛 (10)

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1
有人能想出一种不会破坏生态环境而又能够赶跑蜘蛛的办法吗?

yǒurén néng xiǎng chū yī zhǒng bù huì pòhuài shēngtài huánjìng ér yòu nénggòu gǎn pǎo zhī zhū de bànfǎ ma?

Can anyone suggest a method of deterring spiders which is ecologically sound?
2
他又瘦又高,动作笨拙难看,因此有了“蜘蛛人”的外号。

tā yòu shòu yòu gāo, dòngzuò bènzhuō nánkàn, yīncǐ yǒu le“ zhī zhū rén” de wàihào。

His gangling, awkward gait has earned him the name Spiderman.
3
我们在蜘蛛网似的偏僻街道中七拐八拐地穿行。

wǒmen zài zhī zhū wǎng shìde piānpì jiēdào zhōng qī guǎi bā guǎi dì chuān xíng。

We threaded through a network of back streets.
4
蜘蛛必须等待猎物被它的蛛网困住。

zhī zhū bìxū děngdài lièwù bèi tā de zhū wǎng kùn zhù。

The spider must wait for prey to be ensnared on its web.
5
阿耳巴刻斯的性格象错综复杂的蜘蛛网一样.

Ā ěr Bā kè Sī de xìnggé xiàng cuòzōngfùzá de zhī zhū wǎng yíyàng.

The character of Arbaces was one of those intricate and varied webs.
6
冬天花板上有只蜘蛛.

dōngtiān huā bǎn shàng yǒu zhī zhī zhū.

A spider was on the ceiling.
7
积有灰尘的角落挂着厚厚的蜘蛛网。

jī yǒu huīchén de jiǎoluò guà zhe hòu hòu de zhī zhū wǎng。

Thick cobwebs hung in the dusty corners.
8
蛛网膜是由无血管的结缔组织所构成.

zhū wǎng mó shì yóu wú xuèguǎn de jié dì zǔzhī suǒ gòuchéng.

The arachnoid is composed of connective tissue devoid of blood vessels.
9
几茎蛛丝般的白发在脑后迎风飘动.

jǐ jīng zhū sī bān de bái fā zài nǎo hòu yíng fēng piāo dòng.

A few white weblike hairs were carried in the air behind him.
10
天底下任何力量都不能使我去拣起蜘蛛.

tiān dǐxia rènhé lìliàng dōu bù néng shǐ wǒ qù jiǎn qǐ zhī zhū.

Nothing in the world would make me pick up a spider.

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Word Family of 蛛

Words containing this character8
蜘蛛spider
蛛丝马迹traces蛛絲馬跡
蛛网spider web蛛網
蛛zhūspider
蜘蛛网cobweb蜘蛛網
蜘蛛痣arterial spider
蛛蛛(coll.) spider
蜘蛛类arachnid蜘蛛類
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 蛛

What does 蜘蛛 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛛

No, 蛛 is not commonly used alone in everyday conversation; it is usually found in compound words like 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū).

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