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蛄 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛄gūmole cricketx, 11 strokes, radical 虫
gū(gu1)gu T1
  1. 1mole cricket
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March 24, 2026

蛄gū(gu1)

The character 蛄 (gū) refers to a type of insect known as a mole cricket, which is commonly found in Asia. These insects are known for their burrowing habits and distinctive chirping sounds, especially during the night. They are not only important in the ecosystem but are also sometimes used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Strokes11Radical虫
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, crickets are often associated with good luck and are kept as pets for their melodious chirping, especially during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The mole cricket's role in traditional medicine highlights the connection between nature and health in Chinese practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'guy' (gū) wearing a cricket costume, burrowing underground like a mole. The character 蛄 has a '虫' (insect) radical, reminding you that it's an insect. Picture this guy digging and chirping away to help remember its meaning and sound.

Meanings of 蛄

gū(gu1)
1mole cricket
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蛄

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

Podcast: 蛄

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Podcast: 蛄

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AI study notes for 蛄

Usage Notes

While 蛄 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in specific contexts related to entomology or traditional practices. Ensure correct pronunciation, as confusing it with similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings. It's more formal, so use it in written texts rather than casual speech.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蛄 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of related words like 螻蛄 (lóu gū) or other insect-related terms. Focus on the insect radical '虫' to connect with other characters in this category, reinforcing your vocabulary around nature and animals.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 蛄 with similar-sounding words, such as 螻 (lóu), which refers to a different type of cricket. To avoid this, practice using the character in context and pay attention to the tone differences.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛄

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Etymology of 蛄

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

insect

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

Origin

蛄 = 虫 + 古. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蛄

IDS Structure⿰虫古
蛄Full character
=
虫chong2
left
古Gu3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蛄?

How to say mole cricket in Chinese

“mole cricket” in Chinese is蛄gū

The character 蛄 (gū) refers to a type of insect known as a mole cricket, which is commonly found in Asia. These insects are known for their burrowing habits and distinctive chirping sounds, especially during the night. They are not only important in the ecosystem but are also sometimes used in traditional Chinese medicine.

When to use 蛄

While 蛄 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it may appear in specific contexts related to entomology or traditional practices. Ensure correct pronunciation, as confusing it with similar-sounding words can lead to misunderstandings. It's more formal, so use it in written texts rather than casual speech.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 蛄 with similar-sounding words, such as 螻 (lóu), which refers to a different type of cricket. To avoid this, practice using the character in context and pay attention to the tone differences.

Write 蛄

蛄

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

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Word Family of 蛄

Words containing this character2
蛄gūmole cricket
蝼蛄mole cricket螻蛄
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 蛄

What does 蝼蛄 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 蛄

It means 'mole cricket', a type of burrowing insect known for its chirping.

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