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螃 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
pángcrabn, 16 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
páng(pang2) T2
  1. 1crab
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
páng(pang2)

The character 螃 (páng) refers specifically to a crab, a crustacean commonly found in both freshwater and saltwater environments. In Chinese cuisine, crabs are highly regarded and often featured in various dishes, especially during festive occasions. The term can also be used in a broader sense in discussions about marine life.

Strokes16RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Crabs are a delicacy in China, especially in regions like Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where the hairy crab is highly sought after during the autumn harvest season. Festivals often celebrate crabs, highlighting their importance in Chinese culinary culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a crab scuttling sideways, and its name 'páng' rhymes with 'hang' as you visualize it hanging onto a rock. The character 螃 has a radical that resembles a 'bug' (虫), evoking the idea of a creature, while the pronunciation 'páng' sounds like a playful crab dance.

Meanings of 螃

páng(pang2)
1crab
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 螃

Simplified
16Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 螃

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 螃

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a crab scuttling sideways, and its name 'páng' rhymes with 'hang' as you visualize it hanging onto a rock. The character 螃 has a radical that resembles a 'bug' (虫), evoking the idea of a creature, while the pronunciation 'páng' sounds like a playful crab dance.

Usage Notes

When using 螃, it is common to see it paired with 螃蟹 (pángxiè), meaning 'crab', which is the more complete term. Avoid confusing this with other seafood terms. The tone of 'páng' is the second tone, which can be mistaken for the first; ensure clarity in pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 螃 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary list, it can be encountered frequently in food-related contexts. Students should focus on recognizing it alongside other food-related terms and practicing its pronunciation to avoid tonal mistakes.

Cultural Note

Crabs are a delicacy in China, especially in regions like Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where the hairy crab is highly sought after during the autumn harvest season. Festivals often celebrate crabs, highlighting their importance in Chinese culinary culture.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 螃 with other seafood terms like 鱼 (yú), meaning 'fish'. For example, saying 螃 for fish is incorrect; use 鱼 instead. Additionally, some may mispronounce it as páng with a first tone, which can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 螃

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Etymology of 螃

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 旁 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 螃?

Decomposition of 螃

IDS Structure⿰虫旁
Full Character
=
chong2
left
pang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 螃?

Write 螃

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 螃

螃 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 1

Complete the Sentence

有炒米粉 、 红烧猪蹄 、 清蒸____蟹, 还有鱼丸汤.

There are fried rice, stewed pork leg, steamed crab, and fish soup.

Example Sentences for 螃 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
有炒米粉 、 红烧猪蹄 、 清蒸螃蟹, 还有鱼丸汤.

yǒu chǎo mǐ fěn、 、 hóng shāo zhū、 tí 、 qīng zhēng, páng xiè , huán yǒu.

There are fried rice, stewed pork leg, steamed crab, and fish soup.

Cultural Notes for 螃

🏮Cultural insight

Crabs are a delicacy in China, especially in regions like Jiangsu and Zhejiang, where the hairy crab is highly sought after during the autumn harvest season. Festivals often celebrate crabs, highlighting their importance in Chinese culinary culture.

Word Family of 螃

Words Containing This Character2
螃蟹crab
pángcrab
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 螃蟹 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 螃

You say 'crab' in Chinese as 螃蟹 (pángxiè).