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蛳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛳sīa snail with a spiral shellx, 12 strokes, radical 虫
蛳sīsnailunknown, 12 strokes, radical 虫
sī(si1)si T1
  1. 1a snail with a spiral shell
  2. 2snail
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March 24, 2026

蛳(螄)sī(si1)

The character 蛳 (sī) refers specifically to a type of snail known for its spiral shell. This term is often used in biological contexts or when discussing certain culinary dishes in Chinese cuisine where snails are featured.

Strokes12Radical虫
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, certain snails are considered delicacies, particularly in regions where they are harvested and cooked in unique ways. The appreciation of snails reflects a broader cultural acceptance of diverse food sources in China.

Memory tip

Imagine a spiral shell on the beach, slowly moving like a snail. The character 蛳 has the radical for 'insect' (虫), reminding you that it's a creature, and the 'si' sound can be remembered as 'see' the snail's shell.

Meanings of 蛳

sī(si1)
1a snail with a spiral shell
2snail
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蛳

蛳Simplified
螄Traditional
12Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛳

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Podcast: 蛳

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AI Study Notes for 蛳

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 蛳 (sī) with similar-sounding words. This term is more commonly used in specific contexts rather than in everyday conversation, making it more formal. It often appears in discussions about food or biology.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蛳 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other animal-related terms. Students should focus on recognizing how characters can depict animals and their characteristics, as this can help with memorization.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛳 (sī) with other similar-sounding characters like 司 (sī) which means 'to manage' or 'to take charge.' Remember that 蛳 specifically relates to snails, whereas 司 pertains to management.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛳

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Etymology of 蛳

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

mollusk

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

Origin

蛳 = 虫 + 师. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蛳

IDS Structure⿰虫师
蛳Full character
=
虫chong2
left
师Shi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蛳?

How to say a snail with a spiral shell in Chinese

“a snail with a spiral shell” in Chinese is蛳sī

The character 蛳 (sī) refers specifically to a type of snail known for its spiral shell. This term is often used in biological contexts or when discussing certain culinary dishes in Chinese cuisine where snails are featured.

When to use 蛳

Be careful not to confuse 蛳 (sī) with similar-sounding words. This term is more commonly used in specific contexts rather than in everyday conversation, making it more formal. It often appears in discussions about food or biology.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蛳 (sī) with other similar-sounding characters like 司 (sī) which means 'to manage' or 'to take charge.' Remember that 蛳 specifically relates to snails, whereas 司 pertains to management.

Write 蛳

蛳

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

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Word Family of 蛳

Words containing this character2
螺蛳river snail螺螄
蛳sīsnail螄
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 蛳

What does 螺蛳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛳

It is pronounced as 'sī'.

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