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March 24, 2026
蜒yán(yan2)
The character 蜒 (yán) refers to a millipede or slug, both of which are elongated, soft-bodied creatures that typically have numerous legs. This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized contexts, such as biology or ecology, when discussing various invertebrate species.
Strokes12Radical虫Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, creatures like millipedes and slugs may not hold significant symbolic meaning, but they are often discussed in the context of traditional medicine or ecological balance in nature.
Memory Tip
Think of a long, wiggly creature: the millipede. The character 蜒 visually resembles a wavy line, representing the many legs of a millipede as it moves along the ground. The radical '虫' (insect) at the bottom hints at its classification among creepy crawlies.
Meanings of 蜒
yán(yan2)
1millipede
2slug
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 蜒
蜒Simplified
12Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蜒
Podcast: 蜒
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AI Study Notes for 蜒
Memory Mnemonic
Think of a long, wiggly creature: the millipede. The character 蜒 visually resembles a wavy line, representing the many legs of a millipede as it moves along the ground. The radical '虫' (insect) at the bottom hints at its classification among creepy crawlies.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 蜒 with similar characters that refer to other insects or creatures, as context is vital. This character is more likely to appear in scientific texts rather than in everyday speech, so it's considered somewhat formal or technical.
HSK Study Tips
While 蜒 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of animal-related terms. Focus on the radicals and components of the character, as they provide clues about its meaning and related words in the same category.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, creatures like millipedes and slugs may not hold significant symbolic meaning, but they are often discussed in the context of traditional medicine or ecological balance in nature.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 蜒 with other similar characters, especially those related to different insects. For example, incorrectly using 蜒 to refer to a centipede, which is actually expressed as 百足虫 (bǎi zú chong).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蜒
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Grammar Patterns of 蜒
蜒 carries 2 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 4
Complete the Sentence
摩泽尔河在宁静的乡间蜿____穿行约160英里。
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
Example Sentences for 蜒 (10)
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1
摩泽尔河在宁静的乡间蜿蜒穿行约160英里。
mó zé ěr hé zài níng jìng de xiāng jiān wān yán chuān háng yuē160 160 yīng。
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
The road winds for miles through parched earth, scrub and cactus.
6
开车的话需要走一段非常蜿蜒曲折的下坡路。
kāi chē de huà xū yào zǒu yī duàn fēi cháng wān yán qū zhē de xià pō lù。
The drive required going down a quite twisty road.
7
银刺地带那儿的海岸线曲折蜿蜒.
yín cì dì dài nà ér de hǎi àn xiàn qū zhē wān yán.
The bay shore of the silverthorn tract was very irregular.
8
这辆旧卡车在蜿蜒的公路上缓慢地颠簸前行。
zhè liàng jiù kǎ chē zài wān yán de gōng lù shàng huǎn màn dì diān bò qián háng。
The old truck stuttered along the winding road.
9
蓝蜻蜒,绿蜻蜒停在空中, 一动也不动,这更增加了这里的神秘气氛.
lán qīng yán, , lǜ qīng yán tíng zài kōng, zhōng , yī dòng yě, bù dòng , zhè gēng zēng jiā le zhè lǐ de shén.
Blue and green dragonflies, poised in the air, added to the enchantment.
10
蜿蜒河的一段划为游泳区.
wān yán hé de yī duàn huá wéi yóu yǒng qū.
One part of the Serpentine is kept for swimmers.
Cultural Notes for 蜒
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, creatures like millipedes and slugs may not hold significant symbolic meaning, but they are often discussed in the context of traditional medicine or ecological balance in nature.
Word Family of 蜒
Words Containing This Character3
蜿蜒to wriggle
蜒yánslug
蚰蜒earwig
Exercise 1 of 3
Compound Meaning
What does 蜿蜒 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蜒
It means millipede or slug.
No, it is more often found in scientific or ecological contexts.
