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蝨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝨shīlouse; bed bugzg, 15 strokes, radical 虫
shī(shi1) T1
  1. 1louse; bed bug
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蝨shī(shi1)

The character 蝨 (shī) refers to a louse or bed bug, which are small, parasitic insects that infest humans and animals. It is commonly used in discussions about hygiene, pest control, and health. In a broader context, it can also symbolize something undesirable or bothersome.

Strokes15Radical虫
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the presence of pests like 蝨 is often linked to poor hygiene and can signify underlying health issues. This connection reflects cultural attitudes toward cleanliness and health.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny bug (蝨) that's so small, it can hide in your bed. The character looks like a bug hiding under a sheet, with the top part resembling its head and the bottom part its body, while the 'sh' sound can remind you of a shivering feeling when you find one in your bed!

Meanings of 蝨

shī(shi1)
1louse; bed bug
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蝨

蝨Simplified
15Strokes
虫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蝨

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Podcast: 蝨

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AI Study Notes for 蝨

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; 蝨 is pronounced with a high-level tone (shī) which can be confused with other words. It is more commonly used in formal contexts related to health and pest control rather than in everyday conversation. Combining it with terms like '防治' (fáng zhì) for prevention and control is common.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蝨 is not included in HSK, it relates to broader vocabulary about insects and health found at higher levels. Students should focus on recognizing the character in context and understanding its implications in discussions about hygiene.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蝨 with similar characters like 虱 (shī), which also means lice but in a different context. For example, saying '我有蝨在头上' (Wǒ yǒu shī zài tóu shàng) is incorrect; it should be 虱 instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝨

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Etymology of 蝨

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蝨

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

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Decomposition of 蝨

IDS Structure⿱卂⿰虫虫
蝨Full Character
=
卂xun4
top
虫chong2
left
虫chong2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蝨?

How to say louse; bed bug in Chinese

“louse; bed bug” in Chinese is蝨shī

The character 蝨 (shī) refers to a louse or bed bug, which are small, parasitic insects that infest humans and animals. It is commonly used in discussions about hygiene, pest control, and health. In a broader context, it can also symbolize something undesirable or bothersome.

When to use 蝨

Be cautious with the tone; 蝨 is pronounced with a high-level tone (shī) which can be confused with other words. It is more commonly used in formal contexts related to health and pest control rather than in everyday conversation. Combining it with terms like '防治' (fáng zhì) for prevention and control is common.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蝨 with similar characters like 虱 (shī), which also means lice but in a different context. For example, saying '我有蝨在头上' (Wǒ yǒu shī zài tóu shàng) is incorrect; it should be 虱 instead.

Write 蝨

蝨

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 蝨

Words Containing This Character6
虱子louse (Pediculus humanus)蝨子
虱shīlouse
塘虱catfish (family Clariidae)
虱目鱼milkfish (Chanos chanos)虱目魚
头虱head lice頭蝨
虱多不痒Troubles never come singly.蝨多不癢
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 虱子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝨

蝨 refers specifically to lice or bed bugs, while 虱 (shī) generally refers to lice, particularly those found on the scalp.

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