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蜃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蜃shènclam; sea serpentn, 13 strokes, radical 虫
蜃shèn(mythical animal)unknown, 13 strokes, radical 虫
蜃shènsea-serpentunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虫
shèn(shen4)shen T4
  1. 1clam; sea serpent
  2. 2(mythical animal)
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March 24, 2026

蜃shèn(shen4)

The character 蜃 (shèn) refers to a mythical creature often depicted as a sea serpent or a giant clam. In Chinese folklore, it is said to be able to produce mirages and is often associated with coastal areas and the ocean. The term can also refer to the real clam, highlighting its connection to both mythology and nature.

Strokes13Radical虫
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the 蜃 is tied to coastal legends and is often featured in poetry and stories about the sea, symbolizing mystery and the unknown. The creature's ability to create mirages reflects the significance of perception and reality in Chinese philosophy.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant clam (蜃) that can create beautiful mirages in the ocean. The character's form resembles a shell, while the 'sh' sound in 'shèn' can remind you of the sea's 'shhh' sound, as waves gently lap against the shore.

Meanings of 蜃

shèn(shen4)
1clam; sea serpent
2(mythical animal)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 蜃

蜃Simplified
13Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蜃

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Podcast: 蜃

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AI Study Notes for 蜃

Usage Notes

While 蜃 is primarily used in literary or mythological contexts, learners may confuse it with the more common word for clam, which is 蛤 (gé). Be aware that 蜃 is less frequently used in everyday conversation and is more appropriate for formal or literary contexts.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蜃 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your comprehension of Chinese mythology and literature. Focus on its components: the radical for insect (虫) hints at its natural origins, while the surrounding elements evoke its mythical status.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蜃 with 蛤, using 蜃 in contexts where they should use 蛤, such as ordering food. For example, saying '我要一盘蜃' (I want a plate of shèn) is incorrect; it should be '我要一盘蛤'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜃

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Jason Explains 蜃 to You

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Etymology of 蜃

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

mollusk

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

Origin

蜃 = 虫 + 辰. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蜃

IDS Structure⿸辰虫
蜃Full character
=
辰chen2
enclosing
虫chong2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蜃?

How to say clam; sea serpent in Chinese

“clam; sea serpent” in Chinese is蜃shèn

The character 蜃 (shèn) refers to a mythical creature often depicted as a sea serpent or a giant clam. In Chinese folklore, it is said to be able to produce mirages and is often associated with coastal areas and the ocean. The term can also refer to the real clam, highlighting its connection to both mythology and nature.

When to use 蜃

While 蜃 is primarily used in literary or mythological contexts, learners may confuse it with the more common word for clam, which is 蛤 (gé). Be aware that 蜃 is less frequently used in everyday conversation and is more appropriate for formal or literary contexts.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蜃 with 蛤, using 蜃 in contexts where they should use 蛤, such as ordering food. For example, saying '我要一盘蜃' (I want a plate of shèn) is incorrect; it should be '我要一盘蛤'.

Write 蜃

蜃

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

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Word Family of 蜃

Words containing this character3
海市蜃楼mirage (lit. or fig.)海市蜃樓
蜃shènclam
蜃景mirage
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 蜃

What does 海市蜃楼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜃

蜃 refers to a mythical sea creature or sea serpent, while 蛤 specifically denotes a clam, which is more commonly used in daily conversation.

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