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蜈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蜈wúcentipeden, 13 strokes, radical 虫
wú(wu2)wu T2
  1. 1centipede
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March 24, 2026

蜈wú(wu2)

The character 蜈 (wú) refers to a 'centipede,' which is a long, segmented arthropod known for its numerous legs. In Chinese culture, centipedes can be associated with both traditional medicine and certain superstitions. The term is often used in discussions of nature, biology, or in idiomatic expressions related to pests.

Strokes13Radical虫
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, centipedes (especially certain species) are believed to have medicinal properties and are sometimes used in herbal remedies. This reflects the historical significance of insects in Chinese pharmacology.

Memory tip

Imagine a centipede (蜈) crawling swiftly over a winding path. The character has the radical for 'insect' (虫) at the bottom, emphasizing its identity as an arthropod. Picture it whispering 'wú' as it scuttles away, making it easier to remember the pronunciation.

Meanings of 蜈

wú(wu2)
1centipede
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 蜈

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

Podcast: 蜈

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Podcast: 蜈

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AI Study Notes for 蜈

Usage Notes

The term 蜈 is primarily used in a scientific or biological context, and it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it could change the meaning entirely. It often appears in compound words related to insects and pest control.

HSK Study Tips

While 蜈 is not featured in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other animal-related words at the beginner level. Focus on the radicals and components of the character to help memorize it, as well as its pronunciation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蜈 with similar insect-related characters like 蚂 or 蚊. For example, saying 蜈 instead of 蚂 (ant) is incorrect. Always double-check the context to ensure the right insect is being referred to.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜈

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Etymology of 蜈

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

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

Memory hint

insect

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

Origin

蜈 = 虫 + 吴. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蜈

IDS Structure⿰虫吴
蜈Full character
=
虫chong2
left
吴Wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蜈?

How to say centipede in Chinese

“centipede” in Chinese is蜈wú

The character 蜈 (wú) refers to a 'centipede,' which is a long, segmented arthropod known for its numerous legs. In Chinese culture, centipedes can be associated with both traditional medicine and certain superstitions. The term is often used in discussions of nature, biology, or in idiomatic expressions related to pests.

When to use 蜈

The term 蜈 is primarily used in a scientific or biological context, and it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it could change the meaning entirely. It often appears in compound words related to insects and pest control.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蜈 with similar insect-related characters like 蚂 or 蚊. For example, saying 蜈 instead of 蚂 (ant) is incorrect. Always double-check the context to ensure the right insect is being referred to.

Write 蜈

蜈

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

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Word Family of 蜈

Words containing this character2
蜈蚣centipede
蜈wúcentipede
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 蜈

What does 蜈蚣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜈

The pronunciation is 'wú,' with a rising tone, similar to how you might say 'woo' in English but with a higher pitch.

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