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虿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
虿chàiscorpiong, 9 strokes, radical 虫
虿chài(scorpion)unknown, 9 strokes, radical 虫
虿chàian insectunknown, 9 strokes, radical 虫
chài(chai4)chai T4
  1. 1scorpion
  2. 2(scorpion)
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March 24, 2026

虿(蠆)chài(chai4)

The character 虿 (chài) refers to a scorpion, a type of arachnid known for its venomous sting. It is often used in discussions about insects or creatures that evoke fear or caution. This term is less commonly used in daily conversation, generally appearing in specific contexts like biology or folklore.

Strokes9Radical虫
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, scorpions are sometimes used in traditional medicine and regional cuisine, especially in certain areas of southern China where they are considered a delicacy when prepared as food.

Memory tip

Imagine a scorpion with its curved tail raised. The character 虿 resembles a scorpion with its pincers and tail, and the 'ch' sound in chài can remind you of a creature that 'chases' or 'catches' its prey.

Meanings of 虿

chài(chai4)
1scorpion
2(scorpion)
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 虿

虿Simplified
蠆Traditional
9Strokes
虫Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 虿

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Podcast: 虿

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AI study notes for 虿

Usage Notes

Be aware that 虿 is not frequently used in everyday conversation; it's more common in technical or literary contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters, so pay attention to the context to avoid misinterpretation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 虿 is not included in the official HSK levels, learning related terms like 昆虫 (kūnchóng, insect) and 甲虫 (jiǎchóng, beetle) can enrich vocabulary on the topic of insects. Focus on pronunciation and recognizing it in compound words or phrases.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 虿 with similar characters like 螳 (táng, mantis) due to the visual similarity. To correct this, focus on the unique features of the character and its specific meaning.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 虿

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Etymology of 虿

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

insect

Semantic (meaning)虫
+
Phonetic (sound)万
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

虿 = 虫 + 万. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 虿

IDS Structure⿱万虫
虿Full character
=
万Mo4
top
虫chong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 虿?

How to say scorpion in Chinese

“scorpion” in Chinese is虿chài

The character 虿 (chài) refers to a scorpion, a type of arachnid known for its venomous sting. It is often used in discussions about insects or creatures that evoke fear or caution. This term is less commonly used in daily conversation, generally appearing in specific contexts like biology or folklore.

When to use 虿

Be aware that 虿 is not frequently used in everyday conversation; it's more common in technical or literary contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters, so pay attention to the context to avoid misinterpretation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 虿 with similar characters like 螳 (táng, mantis) due to the visual similarity. To correct this, focus on the unique features of the character and its specific meaning.

Write 虿

虿

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

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Word Family of 虿

Words containing this character1
虿chài(scorpion)蠆

Frequently asked questions about 虿

It is pronounced as 'chài'.

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