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蜍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蜍chútoad (2)x, 13 strokes, radical 虫
蜍chúBufo vulgarisunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虫
蜍chútoadunknown, 13 strokes, radical 虫
chú(chu2)chu T2
  1. 1toad (2)
  2. 2Bufo vulgaris
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March 24, 2026

蜍chú(chu2)

The character 蜍 (chú) refers specifically to a toad, a type of amphibian known for its warty skin and ability to live both in water and on land. In Chinese, it is often associated with the natural environment and is a common subject in literature and folklore, symbolizing transformation and adaptability.

Strokes13Radical虫
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, toads are sometimes seen as symbols of prosperity and fertility, and they appear in various myths and stories about transformation and rebirth.

Memory tip

Think of a toad as a creature that 'chooses' to live in two worlds: 'chú' sounds like 'choose.' The character has the radical for insect (虫), reminding you of its amphibious nature, while the rest of the character can be imagined as a toad's body sitting low to the ground.

Meanings of 蜍

chú(chu2)
1toad (2)
2Bufo vulgaris
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蜍

蜍Simplified
13Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蜍

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Podcast: 蜍

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AI Study Notes for 蜍

Quick Contrast

蛙 (wā) — use 蜍 (chú) when referring specifically to toads, which have warty skin, as opposed to 蛙 (wā), which refers to frogs, typically smoother and more agile.

Usage Notes

When using 蜍, it is essential to recognize that this term is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with frogs, as the two are distinct; use 蛙 (wā) for frogs. In literature, 蜍 may be used metaphorically, so context is vital.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蜍 is not an HSK level word, it connects to themes of nature and animals found in lower-level HSK vocab. Students should focus on pronunciation and using it in environmental contexts or when discussing wildlife.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蜍 (toad) with 蛙 (frog), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我看到一只蜍在水里' (I saw a toad in the water) is incorrect if referring to a frog; instead, use '蛙' for frogs.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜍

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Etymology of 蜍

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

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

Memory hint

mollusk

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

Origin

蜍 = 虫 + 余. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蜍

IDS Structure⿰虫余
蜍Full character
=
虫chong2
left
余Yu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蜍?

How to say toad (2) in Chinese

“toad (2)” in Chinese is蜍chú

The character 蜍 (chú) refers specifically to a toad, a type of amphibian known for its warty skin and ability to live both in water and on land. In Chinese, it is often associated with the natural environment and is a common subject in literature and folklore, symbolizing transformation and adaptability.

When to use 蜍

When using 蜍, it is essential to recognize that this term is more formal and less commonly used in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with frogs, as the two are distinct; use 蛙 (wā) for frogs. In literature, 蜍 may be used metaphorically, so context is vital.

蜍 or something close to it

蛙 (wā) — use 蜍 (chú) when referring specifically to toads, which have warty skin, as opposed to 蛙 (wā), which refers to frogs, typically smoother and more agile.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蜍 (toad) with 蛙 (frog), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我看到一只蜍在水里' (I saw a toad in the water) is incorrect if referring to a frog; instead, use '蛙' for frogs.

Write 蜍

蜍

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

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Grammar Patterns of 蜍

蜍 carries 3 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

这片潮湿地区也吸引了青蛙、蟾____和蝾螈一类的生物。

This wet area also attracts frogs, toads and newts.

Example Sentences for 蜍 (2)

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1
这片潮湿地区也吸引了青蛙、蟾蜍和蝾螈一类的生物。

zhè piàn cháoshī dìqū yě xīyǐn le qīngwā、 chán chú hé róng yuán yī lèi de shēngwù。

This wet area also attracts frogs, toads and newts.
2
他把手伸进淤泥里捞摸,结果抓上来一只巨大的蟾蜍。

tā bǎshou shēn jìn yūní lǐ lāo mō, jiéguǒ zhuā shànglái yī zhī jùdà de chán chú。

He grabbed into the ooze and came up clutching a large toad.

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Word Family of 蜍

Words containing this character2
蟾蜍toad
蜍chútoad
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 蜍

What does 蟾蜍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜍

No, 蜍 is more often seen in literature or academic contexts rather than in everyday speech.

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