Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蜩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蜩tiáocicada, broad locustg, 14 strokes, radical 虫
tiáo(tiao2)tiao T2
  1. 1cicada, broad locust
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蜩tiáo(tiao2)

The character 蜩 (tiáo) refers specifically to a type of cicada, which is known for its distinctive sound during the summer months. In Chinese culture, cicadas symbolize rebirth and immortality, often appearing in poetry and art to convey the theme of life cycles and nature's beauty.

Strokes14Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cicadas are often associated with summer and are frequently mentioned in classical poetry, symbolizing the fleeting nature of life and the beauty of the natural world. They are also linked to the idea of persistence and resilience.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cicada (蜩) perched on a tree branch, singing a song of summer. The character's components '虫' (insect) and '夭' (young) can remind you of a young insect that emerges from the earth to sing its song, helping you remember its meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 蜩

tiáo(tiao2)
1cicada, broad locust
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蜩 means.

About 蜩

蜩Simplified
14Strokes
虫Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蜩

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蜩

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蜩

Quick Contrast

蝉 (chán) - use 蜩 (tiáo) when specifically referring to the cicada known for its sound, while 蝉 (chán) can refer to cicadas in general.

Usage Notes

The character 蜩 is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious with tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include phrases related to nature and poetry.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蜩 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects well with other nature-related terms such as 虫 (insect) and 蝉 (cicada). Students should focus on recognizing this character in literary texts and understanding its symbolic meanings.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蜩 with similar words like 蝉 (cicada) due to their overlapping meanings. It's important to note that while both refer to cicadas, 蜩 has a more literary connotation, whereas 蝉 is more commonly used in everyday speech.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜩

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 蜩 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

Jason Explains 蜩 to You

Let me explain 蜩 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 蜩 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 蜩?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 蜩 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 蜩

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

insect

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

Origin

蜩 = 虫 + 周. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蜩

IDS Structure⿰虫周
蜩Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
周Zhou1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蜩?

How to say cicada, broad locust in Chinese

“cicada, broad locust” in Chinese is蜩tiáo

The character 蜩 (tiáo) refers specifically to a type of cicada, which is known for its distinctive sound during the summer months. In Chinese culture, cicadas symbolize rebirth and immortality, often appearing in poetry and art to convey the theme of life cycles and nature's beauty.

When to use 蜩

The character 蜩 is more commonly used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious with tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words. Common collocations include phrases related to nature and poetry.

蜩 or something close to it

蝉 (chán) - use 蜩 (tiáo) when specifically referring to the cicada known for its sound, while 蝉 (chán) can refer to cicadas in general.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蜩 with similar words like 蝉 (cicada) due to their overlapping meanings. It's important to note that while both refer to cicadas, 蜩 has a more literary connotation, whereas 蝉 is more commonly used in everyday speech.

Write 蜩

蜩

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 蜩?

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 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 蜩

Words Containing This Character1
蜩tiáocicada

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜩

It is pronounced as 'tiáo' with the second tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蜩?

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