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蟭 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蟭jiāomite, larva; mantis eggzg, 18 strokes, radical 虫
蟭jiāoeggs of mantisunknown, 18 strokes, radical 虫
jiāo(jiao1) T1
  1. 1mite, larva; mantis egg
  2. 2eggs of mantis
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蟭jiāo(jiao1)

The character 蟭 (jiāo) refers to a type of small insect, commonly translated as 'mite' or 'larva.' It can also specifically denote the eggs of a mantis, which connects it to the lifecycle of these insects. This word is often used in entomological contexts or discussions about pest control.

Strokes18Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, insects like the mantis are often associated with traditional agricultural practices, where understanding their lifecycle can be crucial for pest management. The mantis itself is sometimes symbolically linked to patience and virtue.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny 'mite' (蟭) hiding among leaves, making a 'jiao' sound as it jumps. The character has a '虫' (insect) radical, reminding you it pertains to small creatures. Picture mantis eggs nestled in the ground, waiting to hatch.

Meanings of 蟭

jiāo(jiao1)
1mite, larva; mantis egg
2eggs of mantis
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蟭

蟭Simplified
18Strokes
虫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蟭

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蟭

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蟭

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 蟭 with similar insect-related characters, so it's important to focus on the context in which it is used. This term is more formal and specialized, suitable for scientific discussions rather than casual conversation. Be aware of the correct tone to avoid mispronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蟭 is not in the HSK vocabulary lists, it is useful for learners interested in biology or entomology. Students should focus on recognizing the insect radical and how it relates to other characters about animals and nature.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently mispronounce 蟭 as 'jiao' with the wrong tone, leading to confusion with other words. Make sure to use the correct tone (first tone) to distinguish it clearly.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蟭

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Etymology of 蟭

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

insect

Semantic (meaning)虫
+
Phonetic (sound)焦
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蟭

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half焦 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayinsect
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 蟭? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 蟭?

Decomposition of 蟭

IDS Structure⿰虫焦
蟭Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
焦Jiao1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蟭?

How to say mite, larva; mantis egg in Chinese

“mite, larva; mantis egg” in Chinese is蟭jiāo

The character 蟭 (jiāo) refers to a type of small insect, commonly translated as 'mite' or 'larva.' It can also specifically denote the eggs of a mantis, which connects it to the lifecycle of these insects. This word is often used in entomological contexts or discussions about pest control.

When to use 蟭

Learners often confuse 蟭 with similar insect-related characters, so it's important to focus on the context in which it is used. This term is more formal and specialized, suitable for scientific discussions rather than casual conversation. Be aware of the correct tone to avoid mispronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners frequently mispronounce 蟭 as 'jiao' with the wrong tone, leading to confusion with other words. Make sure to use the correct tone (first tone) to distinguish it clearly.

Write 蟭

蟭

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Frequently Asked Questions about 蟭

Focus on the sound 'jiāo' and connect it to the image of a 'jumping mite'.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蟭?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.