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蚖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yuánsalamander, newtzg, 10 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
yuánProtura (soil dwelling primitive hexapod)unknown, 10 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
yuántritonunknown, 10 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
yuán(yuan2) T2
  1. 1salamander, newt
  2. 2Protura (soil dwelling primitive hexapod)
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March 24, 2026
yuán(yuan2)

The character 蚖 (yuán) refers to a type of amphibian, specifically a salamander or newt. It is often used in biological contexts and may also refer to certain primitive soil-dwelling hexapods. The character can be seen as a variant of 螈 (yuán), which has a similar meaning.

Strokes10RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, various amphibians, including salamanders, have been used for their supposed health benefits, highlighting their importance in Chinese culture beyond just being a part of the animal kingdom.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny newt, the 'yuán,' slithering through the soil, its body resembling a soft, flowing ribbon. The radical '虫' (insect) suggests its amphibious nature, while the '员' component makes you think of a team member (like the newt) in the ecosystem.

Meanings of 蚖

yuán(yuan2)
1salamander, newt
2Protura (soil dwelling primitive hexapod)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蚖

Simplified
10Strokes
Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蚖

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AI Study Notes for 蚖

Quick Contrast

蚖 (yuán) vs 螈 (yuán) — use 蚖 for specific amphibian contexts, while 螈 may refer more broadly to related species.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a tiny newt, the 'yuán,' slithering through the soil, its body resembling a soft, flowing ribbon. The radical '虫' (insect) suggests its amphibious nature, while the '员' component makes you think of a team member (like the newt) in the ecosystem.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 蚖 (yuán) with similar characters like 螈 (yuán), which has a more common usage in everyday contexts. This term is generally used in formal or scientific discussions about amphibians, making it less common in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Though 蚖 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects with other HSK level words related to nature and animals. Focus on recognizing related terms and their usage in scientific contexts.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, various amphibians, including salamanders, have been used for their supposed health benefits, highlighting their importance in Chinese culture beyond just being a part of the animal kingdom.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蚖 (yuán) with 螈 (yuán), leading to incorrect usage in discussions about amphibians. Always make sure to use 蚖 when specifically referring to newts or salamanders.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蚖

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Etymology of 蚖

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

worm

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 蚖?

Decomposition of 蚖

IDS Structure⿰虫元
Full Character
=
chong2
left
Yuan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蚖?

Write 蚖

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

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Cultural Notes for 蚖

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, various amphibians, including salamanders, have been used for their supposed health benefits, highlighting their importance in Chinese culture beyond just being a part of the animal kingdom.

Word Family of 蚖

Words Containing This Character1
yuánnewt
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蚖 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蚖

It is pronounced as 'yuán'.