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蚺 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蚺ránboa constrictorx, 11 strokes, radical 虫
蚺ránboaunknown, 11 strokes, radical 虫
rán(ran2)ran T2
  1. 1boa constrictor
  2. 2boa
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March 24, 2026

蚺rán(ran2)

The character 蚺 (rán) refers specifically to a type of large snake known as the boa constrictor. In contexts, it is often used in literature or discussions about wildlife, particularly in relation to descriptions of exotic animals or nature. It carries a connotation of something powerful and impressive, given the size and hunting skills of the boa.

Strokes11Radical虫
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, snakes can symbolize both wisdom and danger. The boa constrictor, specifically, may evoke feelings of fascination due to its size and strength, often appearing in stories and folklore about nature's wonders.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant snake that 'ran' across the jungle, wrapping itself around its prey. The character 蚺 has the radical for insect (虫) indicating its connection to animals, while the phonetic part 'ran' sounds like 'ran,' suggesting a swift, powerful creature.

Meanings of 蚺

rán(ran2)
1boa constrictor
2boa
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蚺

蚺Simplified
11Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 蚺

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AI study notes for 蚺

Usage Notes

This character is relatively rare in everyday conversation and may be encountered in more formal or literary contexts. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with other snake-related terms, such as 蛇 (shé), which is the general term for snake. It's also important to use the correct tone when pronouncing 蚺, as mispronunciation could lead to confusion.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蚺 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 3's animal vocabulary, such as 猫 (māo) for cat and 狗 (gǒu) for dog. Students should focus on recognizing the context in which specific animals are discussed, enhancing their vocabulary related to wildlife.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蚺 with 蛇 (shé), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我看见了一只蚺在公园里' (I saw a boa in the park) when referring to any snake is incorrect; it should be '我看见了一只蛇在公园里'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蚺

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Etymology of 蚺

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

worm

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

Origin

蚺 = 虫 + 冉. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蚺

IDS Structure⿰虫冉
蚺Full character
=
虫chong2
left
冉ran3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蚺?

How to say boa constrictor in Chinese

“boa constrictor” in Chinese is蚺rán

The character 蚺 (rán) refers specifically to a type of large snake known as the boa constrictor. In contexts, it is often used in literature or discussions about wildlife, particularly in relation to descriptions of exotic animals or nature. It carries a connotation of something powerful and impressive, given the size and hunting skills of the boa.

When to use 蚺

This character is relatively rare in everyday conversation and may be encountered in more formal or literary contexts. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with other snake-related terms, such as 蛇 (shé), which is the general term for snake. It's also important to use the correct tone when pronouncing 蚺, as mispronunciation could lead to confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蚺 with 蛇 (shé), using them interchangeably. For example, saying '我看见了一只蚺在公园里' (I saw a boa in the park) when referring to any snake is incorrect; it should be '我看见了一只蛇在公园里'.

Write 蚺

蚺

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Word Family of 蚺

Words containing this character1
蚺ránboa

Frequently asked questions about 蚺

The pronunciation is 'rán,' with a rising tone, similar to how you might raise your voice slightly at the end of a question.

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