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磲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
磲qúgiant clam, Tridacna gigasx, 16 strokes, radical 石
qú(qu2) T2
  1. 1giant clam, Tridacna gigas
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

磲qú(qu2)

The character 磲 (qú) refers to a type of giant clam, specifically the species Tridacna gigas. These clams are known for their large size and are often found in warm coastal waters. In culinary contexts, they are valued as a delicacy in some regions, particularly in Chinese seafood cuisine.

Strokes16Radical石
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, seafood, including clams, is a significant part of culinary traditions, especially in coastal regions. Dishes featuring giant clams may be served during festive occasions or family gatherings, highlighting their cultural importance.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant clam (磲) as a treasure chest (the shell) hiding in the ocean. The 'q' in 'qú' can remind you of 'queen' — think of the clam as the queen of the sea due to its impressive size and value.

Meanings of 磲

qú(qu2)
1giant clam, Tridacna gigas
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 磲

磲Simplified
16Strokes
石Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 磲

JasonAmy

Podcast: 磲

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AI Study Notes for 磲

Usage Notes

磲 is a more specialized term and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. It is often found in more formal or scientific contexts when discussing marine life. Be cautious of mispronouncing the tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone (qú) which distinguishes it from other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 磲 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should be familiar with related terms in marine biology and seafood, which can enhance understanding in specialized contexts. Focus on the pronunciation and recognition of the character in texts related to seafood or marine life.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 磲 with similar characters that have different meanings. For example, confusing 磲 (qú) with 龟 (guī), which means turtle. It's important to pay attention to the pronunciation and context to avoid such mistakes.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 磲

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Etymology of 磲

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

stone

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 磲

  1. 1The meaning half石 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half渠 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaystone
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 磲? 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 磲?

Decomposition of 磲

IDS Structure⿰石渠
磲Full Character
=
石dan4
left
渠ju4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 磲?

How to say giant clam, Tridacna gigas in Chinese

“giant clam, Tridacna gigas” in Chinese is磲qú

The character 磲 (qú) refers to a type of giant clam, specifically the species Tridacna gigas. These clams are known for their large size and are often found in warm coastal waters. In culinary contexts, they are valued as a delicacy in some regions, particularly in Chinese seafood cuisine.

When to use 磲

磲 is a more specialized term and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. It is often found in more formal or scientific contexts when discussing marine life. Be cautious of mispronouncing the tone; it is pronounced with a rising tone (qú) which distinguishes it from other similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 磲 with similar characters that have different meanings. For example, confusing 磲 (qú) with 龟 (guī), which means turtle. It's important to pay attention to the pronunciation and context to avoid such mistakes.

Write 磲

磲

Practice writing 磲 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 磲

Words Containing This Character1
磲qúTridacna gigas
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 磲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 磲

磲 refers to giant clams, specifically the species Tridacna gigas.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 磲?

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