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蜚 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
fěicockroachv, 14 strokes, radical 虫, rank #51539, Very Hard
fěigad-flyunknown, 14 strokes, radical 虫, rank #51539, Very Hard
fēicockroachv, 14 strokes, radical 虫, rank #51539, Very Hard
fēigad-flyunknown, 14 strokes, radical 虫, rank #51539, Very Hard
fēi(fei1)
primary
T1
  1. 1cockroach
  2. 2gad-fly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
fēi(fei1)

The character 蜚 (fēi) primarily refers to a type of insect, specifically a cockroach or gad-fly. It encompasses the notion of pests or insects that are often seen as annoying or undesirable, commonly used in discussions about cleanliness or pest control.

Strokes14RadicalFrequency#51539DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cleanliness and hygiene are highly valued, and pests like cockroaches symbolize dirtiness. The fear of these insects is reflected in conversations about home maintenance and urban living.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cockroach flying (the character has the component for 'insect' 蜚) and causing chaos in your kitchen. The sound 'fēi' can be remembered by associating it with the word 'fly,' as these insects are often seen buzzing around, making them hard to catch.

Meanings of 蜚

fēi(fei1)
primary
1cockroach
2gad-fly
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蜚

Simplified
14Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蜚

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 蜚

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a cockroach flying (the character has the component for 'insect' 蜚) and causing chaos in your kitchen. The sound 'fēi' can be remembered by associating it with the word 'fly,' as these insects are often seen buzzing around, making them hard to catch.

Usage Notes

This term is relatively informal and is often used in discussions around pests. A common mistake is using it in a formal context; instead, use more general terms when speaking formally about insects. Be mindful of pronunciation, as using the wrong tone can change its meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蜚 is not a standard HSK word, it can be linked to other HSK vocabulary regarding animals and nature. Focus on the radicals for insects (虫) to recognize similar characters and expand your vocabulary concerning pests and animals.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cleanliness and hygiene are highly valued, and pests like cockroaches symbolize dirtiness. The fear of these insects is reflected in conversations about home maintenance and urban living.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蜚 with similar sounding characters like 飞 (fēi), which means 'to fly.' For example, saying 蜚 can mean 'to fly' is incorrect; instead, remember it refers to a type of insect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜚

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Etymology of 蜚

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

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

Memory Hint

insect

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蜚?

Decomposition of 蜚

IDS Structure⿱非虫
Full Character
=
Fei1
top
chong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蜚?

Write 蜚

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 蜚

蜚 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 3

Complete the Sentence

这制造了一些非常八卦的流言____语,足够说上几天的。

It provided some juicy gossip for a few days.

Example Sentences for 蜚 (3)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
这制造了一些非常八卦的流言蜚语,足够说上几天的。

zhè zhì zào le yī xiē fēi cháng bā guà de liú yán fēi yǔ, , zú gòu shuō shàng jī tiān。

It provided some juicy gossip for a few days.
2
那也许仅仅是些不怀好意的流言蜚语罢了。

nà yě xǔ jǐn jǐn shì xiē bù huái hǎo yì de liú yán fēi yǔ bà le。

That might merely have been malicious gossip.
3
独自静心想来,安东尼断定曾有流言蜚语。

dú zì jìng xīn xiǎng lái, , ān dōng ní duàn dìng zēng yǒu liú yán fēi。

In his lonely meditations Antony had been forced to the conclusion that there had been rumours.

Cultural Notes for 蜚

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, cleanliness and hygiene are highly valued, and pests like cockroaches symbolize dirtiness. The fear of these insects is reflected in conversations about home maintenance and urban living.

Word Family of 蜚

Words Containing This Character6
流言蜚语lies and slanders流言蜚語
蜚声to make a name蜚聲
fēigad-fly
蜚蠊cockroach
蜚声海外famous at home and abroad蜚聲海外
蜚短流长to spread malicious gossip蜚短流長
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 流言蜚语 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜚

蜚 specifically refers to cockroaches or gad-flies, while other characters may refer to different types of insects.