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蛞 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
kuòsnail, slug; mole cricketx, 12 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
kuò(kuo4) T4
  1. 1snail, slug; mole cricket
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

kuò(kuo4)

The character 蛞 (kuò) primarily refers to a snail or slug, and can also denote a mole cricket. It is commonly used in contexts related to nature and animals, particularly in discussing mollusks or insects. The character may also appear in literary or poetic descriptions of slow-moving creatures.

Strokes12RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, snails and slugs are sometimes associated with slow movement and patience, reflecting a philosophical perspective on life. They can also be found in certain traditional dishes, showcasing their culinary significance in specific regional cuisines.

Memory Tip

Imagine a snail (蛞) slowly crawling along, leaving a trail behind it. The character's form includes the radical for 'insect' (虫), suggesting its connection to creatures like snails and slugs. Picture a 'kuò' (sounds like 'quack') snail that quacks like a duck as it moves slowly!

Meanings of 蛞

kuò(kuo4)
1snail, slug; mole cricket
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蛞

Simplified
12Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛞

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Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 蛞

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a snail (蛞) slowly crawling along, leaving a trail behind it. The character's form includes the radical for 'insect' (虫), suggesting its connection to creatures like snails and slugs. Picture a 'kuò' (sounds like 'quack') snail that quacks like a duck as it moves slowly!

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing 蛞, as a mispronunciation can lead to confusion with other words. This term is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than everyday conversation, so it may not be familiar to all native speakers. Consider collocating it with words related to nature or food.

HSK Study Tips

While 蛞 is not an HSK word, it is important to recognize its components, especially the insect radical. Students should focus on vocabulary related to animals at this level to build a broader understanding of nature-related terms.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, snails and slugs are sometimes associated with slow movement and patience, reflecting a philosophical perspective on life. They can also be found in certain traditional dishes, showcasing their culinary significance in specific regional cuisines.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛞 with similar-sounding words or characters, such as 蛙 (wā, meaning 'frog'). To correct this, focus on the insect radical and the specific context of snails when using 蛞.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛞

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Etymology of 蛞

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

insect

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 蛞?

Decomposition of 蛞

IDS Structure⿰虫舌
Full Character
=
chong2
left
she2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蛞?

Write 蛞

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

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Grammar Patterns of 蛞

蛞 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

____蝓会破坏长出的新芽。

Slugs play merry hell with emerging shoots.

Example Sentences for 蛞 (1)

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1
蛞蝓会破坏长出的新芽。

kuò yú huì pò huài cháng chū de xīn yá。

Slugs play merry hell with emerging shoots.

Cultural Notes for 蛞

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, snails and slugs are sometimes associated with slow movement and patience, reflecting a philosophical perspective on life. They can also be found in certain traditional dishes, showcasing their culinary significance in specific regional cuisines.

Word Family of 蛞

Words Containing This Character1
kuòsnail
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蛞 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛞

It means 'snail' or 'slug', and can also refer to a 'mole cricket'.