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蛏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛏chēngrazor clamn, 11 strokes, radical 虫
蛏chēngmusselunknown, 11 strokes, radical 虫
蛏chēngSolecurtus constrictaunknown, 11 strokes, radical 虫
chēng(cheng1)cheng T1
  1. 1razor clam
  2. 2mussel
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March 24, 2026

蛏(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虫
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

By ear

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About 蛏

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

Podcast: 蛏

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Podcast: 蛏

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AI study notes for 蛏

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.

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

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Etymology of 蛏

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

mollusk

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

Origin

蛏 = 虫 + 圣. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蛏

IDS Structure⿰虫圣
蛏Full character
=
虫chong2
left
圣sheng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蛏?

How to say razor clam in Chinese

“razor clam” in Chinese is蛏chēng

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.

When to use 蛏

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.

What learners get wrong

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.

Write 蛏

蛏

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

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Word Family of 蛏

Words containing this character1
蛏chēngmussel蟶

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.'

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