Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蛏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
chēngrazor clamn, 11 strokes, radical 虫
chēngmusselunknown, 11 strokes, radical 虫
chēngSolecurtus constrictaunknown, 11 strokes, radical 虫
chēng(cheng1) T1
  1. 1razor clam
  2. 2mussel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

(蟶)chēng(cheng1)

The character 蛏 (chēng) refers to a type of marine mollusk known as the razor clam, which is characterized by its elongated shell that resembles a razor blade. It is commonly found in sandy or muddy coastal environments and is often enjoyed as a delicacy in various seafood dishes, especially in coastal regions of China.

Strokes11Radical
Cultural Note

In Chinese coastal cities, 蛏 is often featured in local cuisine, particularly in dishes that highlight fresh seafood, reflecting the country's deep-rooted relationship with its maritime resources and culinary traditions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clam that is so sharp it could cut through the water like a 'razor.' The character 蛏 has the radical 虫 (insect), hinting at its nature as a sea creature, while the sound 'chēng' can remind you of the 'ching' sound when you slice through something sharp like a clam's shell.

Meanings of 蛏

chēng(cheng1)
1razor clam
2mussel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蛏

Simplified
Traditional
11Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛏

JasonAmy

Podcast:

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蛏

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a clam that is so sharp it could cut through the water like a 'razor.' The character 蛏 has the radical 虫 (insect), hinting at its nature as a sea creature, while the sound 'chēng' can remind you of the 'ching' sound when you slice through something sharp like a clam's shell.

Usage Notes

This word is relatively informal and is mainly used in culinary contexts when discussing seafood. Be careful not to confuse it with similar seafood terms like 蚌 (bàng), which refers to a different type of clam. The correct pronunciation is crucial, as mispronouncing the tone could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 蛏 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it offers a connection to HSK Level 3 terms related to food and marine life. Focusing on related seafood vocabulary can enhance your understanding of dining and culinary conversations in Mandarin.

Cultural Note

In Chinese coastal cities, 蛏 is often featured in local cuisine, particularly in dishes that highlight fresh seafood, reflecting the country's deep-rooted relationship with its maritime resources and culinary traditions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛏 with similar seafood terms, such as 蚌 (bàng), which refers to a different type of clam. Remember that 蛏 specifically refers to razor clams, not other clams or shellfish.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛏

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 蛏

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

mollusk

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 蛏?

Decomposition of 蛏

IDS Structure⿰虫圣
Full Character
=
chong2
left
sheng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蛏?

Write 蛏

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 蛏

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese coastal cities, 蛏 is often featured in local cuisine, particularly in dishes that highlight fresh seafood, reflecting the country's deep-rooted relationship with its maritime resources and culinary traditions.

Word Family of 蛏

Words Containing This Character1
chēngmussel
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蛏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛏

You can say: '我喜欢吃蛏子。' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī chēngzi.) which means 'I like to eat razor clams.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after ?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.