Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
蠅yíng(ying2)
The character 蠅 (yíng) refers to a fly, specifically the common housefly. It is often used in contexts discussing insects or pests, and can also appear in idiomatic expressions related to annoyance or small nuisances.
Strokes19Radical虫Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, flies are often seen as pests that symbolize filth, especially in traditional beliefs about cleanliness and health. They can also represent the need for vigilance in maintaining hygiene.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tiny fly buzzing around your head, making you swat at it. The character 蠅 has the radical for 'insect' (虫) at the bottom, which can remind you that it's related to bugs. The 'yíng' pronunciation sounds like 'ring,' as if you are ringing a bell to get rid of the annoying fly.
Meanings of 蠅
yíng(ying2)
1fly, musca
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蠅
蠅Simplified
19Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蠅
Podcast: 蠅
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 蠅
Quick Contrast
蝇 (yíng) refers specifically to the housefly, while 苍蝇 (cāngyíng) is a more general term for flies, often used in a broader context.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a tiny fly buzzing around your head, making you swat at it. The character 蠅 has the radical for 'insect' (虫) at the bottom, which can remind you that it's related to bugs. The 'yíng' pronunciation sounds like 'ring,' as if you are ringing a bell to get rid of the annoying fly.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蠅 with other similar characters like 映 (yìng, reflecting). 蠅 is informal and specific to the insect, while in more formal contexts, you might refer to it as '小虫' (little bug). Common collocations include 蠅子 (yíng zǐ, fly), which is a diminutive form.
HSK Study Tips
Though 蠅 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it connects with HSK Level 3 insects like 虫 (chóng) and other animal-related words. Students should focus on recognizing its usage in conversations about nature or pests.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, flies are often seen as pests that symbolize filth, especially in traditional beliefs about cleanliness and health. They can also represent the need for vigilance in maintaining hygiene.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蠅 with 映 (yìng), which means 'to reflect.' A common mistake is saying '我看到映' instead of '我看到蠅' to mean 'I saw a fly.'
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蠅
Premium — Locked
AI tone practice
Pro
Drill the tone of 蠅 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 蠅 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Write correctly 3 times to earn XP
Cultural Notes for 蠅
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, flies are often seen as pests that symbolize filth, especially in traditional beliefs about cleanliness and health. They can also represent the need for vigilance in maintaining hygiene.
Word Family of 蠅
Words Containing This Character9
苍蝇cāngyinghousefly蒼蠅
蝇yíngfly蠅
果蝇fruit fly果蠅
苍蝇拍flyswatter蒼蠅拍
苍蝇不叮无缝蛋fig. no smoke without a fire蒼蠅不叮無縫蛋
蝇子housefly蠅子
如蝇逐臭the crowd runs after trash如蠅逐臭
蝇虎jumping spider (family Salticidae)蠅虎
苍蝇座Musca (constellation)蒼蠅座
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 苍蝇 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蠅
It is pronounced as 'yíng' with a rising tone.
蠅 specifically refers to flies, whereas 虫 can refer to insects in general.
Yes, it can appear in colloquial phrases that refer to annoyance or minor nuisances.
