Skip to content
Begin learning Chinese at your own paceStart learning
蜊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蜊líclamx, 13 strokes, radical 虫
lí(li2)li T2
  1. 1clam
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蜊lí(li2)

The character 蜊 (lí) refers to a clam, a type of bivalve mollusk commonly found in various aquatic environments. In Chinese cuisine, clams are often used in soups and stir-fries, highlighting their significance in culinary traditions. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to more familiar seafood terms.

Strokes13Radical虫
Cultural note

In coastal regions of China, clams are a popular ingredient in local dishes, such as clam chowder or stir-fried clams with garlic. This highlights the importance of seafood in Chinese cuisine and the cultural significance of fresh ingredients.

Memory tip

Think of the character 蜊 as resembling a clam hiding in its shell. The top part, the '虫' radical, suggests something that lives in the water, while '里' hints at hiding inside. Imagine a clam quietly sitting in the sand, waiting to be discovered.

Meanings of 蜊

lí(li2)
1clam
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蜊 means.

About 蜊

蜊Simplified
13Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蜊

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蜊

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蜊

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 蜊 with similar seafood terms like 蛤 (gé, clam) or 鳗 (mán, eel). Although 蜊 is specific to clams, it's rarely used in casual conversations, so be mindful of context when using it. Remember to use the correct tone (second tone) to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

As there is currently no HSK level assigned to 蜊, it's beneficial to learn it alongside other food-related vocabulary. Focus on pronunciation and context to enhance your understanding of marine life in Mandarin, especially if you are interested in culinary terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 蜊 with other seafood terms like 鳗 (mán, eel) or 牡蛎 (mǔlì, oyster). For instance, saying '我喜欢蜊' (wǒ xǐhuān lí, I like clams) might be correct, but many would opt for more common terms in casual dining contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜊

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

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

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 蜊 to You

Let me explain 蜊 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 蜊 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 蜊?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 蜊 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 蜊

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 利 represents the sound.

Memory hint

mollusk

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

Origin

蜊 = 虫 + 利. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蜊

IDS Structure⿰虫利
蜊Full character
=
虫chong2
left
利Li4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蜊?

How to say clam in Chinese

“clam” in Chinese is蜊lí

The character 蜊 (lí) refers to a clam, a type of bivalve mollusk commonly found in various aquatic environments. In Chinese cuisine, clams are often used in soups and stir-fries, highlighting their significance in culinary traditions. This word is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to more familiar seafood terms.

When to use 蜊

Learners often confuse 蜊 with similar seafood terms like 蛤 (gé, clam) or 鳗 (mán, eel). Although 蜊 is specific to clams, it's rarely used in casual conversations, so be mindful of context when using it. Remember to use the correct tone (second tone) to avoid confusion.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 蜊 with other seafood terms like 鳗 (mán, eel) or 牡蛎 (mǔlì, oyster). For instance, saying '我喜欢蜊' (wǒ xǐhuān lí, I like clams) might be correct, but many would opt for more common terms in casual dining contexts.

Write 蜊

蜊

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 蜊

蜊 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 3

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

在台风天的拾 蛤____ 也是份危险的工作.

Go clamming is also a dangerous work with a willy - willy ( typhoon ).

Example Sentences for 蜊 (2)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
在台风天的拾 蛤蜊 也是份危险的工作.

zài tái fēng tiān de shí gé lì yě shì fèn wēi xiǎn de.

Go clamming is also a dangerous work with a willy - willy ( typhoon ).
2
他们常去浅滩拾蛤蜊.

tā mén cháng qù qiǎn tān shí gé lì.

They often go clamming.

Ask Jason

Have a question about 蜊?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 蜊

Words containing this character2
蛤蜊clam
蜊líclam
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 蜊

What does 蛤蜊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜊

蜊 specifically refers to a type of clam, while 蛤 is a more general term for clams and some other bivalves.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蜊?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab