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蝎 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝎xiēscorpionn, 15 strokes, radical 虫, rank #22600, Very Hard
xiē(xie1)xie T1
  1. 1scorpion
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March 24, 2026

蝎xiē(xie1)

The character 蝎 (xiē) refers to a 'scorpion,' a predatory arachnid known for its pincers and venomous sting. It is commonly used in both scientific contexts and metaphorically in literature or conversation to describe a dangerous or treacherous person or situation.

Strokes15Radical虫Frequency#22600DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, scorpions are sometimes featured in traditional medicine and culinary practices, particularly in certain regional cuisines where they are considered a delicacy. They symbolize danger or treachery, often appearing in proverbs.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'scorpion' with its sharp pincers and stinger. The character 蝎 has the radical 虫 (insect) at the bottom, which reminds you that it's an insect. The 'xiē' sound can be remembered by picturing a fierce scorpion ready to strike, emphasizing its dangerous nature.

Meanings of 蝎

xiē(xie1)
1scorpion
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 蝎

蝎Simplified
15Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蝎

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Podcast: 蝎

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AI Study Notes for 蝎

Quick Contrast

蝎 (xiē, scorpion) vs 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū, spider) — use 蝎 specifically for scorpions, which are distinct from spiders in both taxonomy and behavior.

Usage Notes

When using 蝎, be mindful of its formal context, especially in scientific discussions. A common mistake is confusing 蝎 with similar characters like 蠍, which can lead to errors in meaning. Always pay attention to tone, as it is pronounced with a high level tone (xiē).

HSK Study Tips

Although 蝎 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, it can be linked to HSK Level 3 words related to animals. Students should focus on recognizing animal-related characters and their pronunciation, as well as using them in sentences.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蝎 with similar characters like 蠍, which can lead to incorrect usage. For instance, saying 蠍 instead of 蝎 when referring to a scorpion is incorrect; use 蝎 for the correct term.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝎

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Etymology of 蝎

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蠍.

Memory Hint

insect

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

Origin

蝎 = 虫 + 曷. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蝎

IDS Structure⿰虫曷
蝎Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
曷he2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蝎?

How to say scorpion in Chinese

“scorpion” in Chinese is蝎xiē

The character 蝎 (xiē) refers to a 'scorpion,' a predatory arachnid known for its pincers and venomous sting. It is commonly used in both scientific contexts and metaphorically in literature or conversation to describe a dangerous or treacherous person or situation.

When to use 蝎

When using 蝎, be mindful of its formal context, especially in scientific discussions. A common mistake is confusing 蝎 with similar characters like 蠍, which can lead to errors in meaning. Always pay attention to tone, as it is pronounced with a high level tone (xiē).

蝎 or something close to it

蝎 (xiē, scorpion) vs 蜘蛛 (zhīzhū, spider) — use 蝎 specifically for scorpions, which are distinct from spiders in both taxonomy and behavior.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蝎 with similar characters like 蠍, which can lead to incorrect usage. For instance, saying 蠍 instead of 蝎 when referring to a scorpion is incorrect; use 蝎 for the correct term.

Write 蝎

蝎

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

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Word Family of 蝎

Words Containing This Character4
蝎xiēscorpion
蝎子scorpion蠍子
天蝎座Scorpio or Scorpius (constellation and sign of the zodiac)天蠍座
蝎虎座Lacerta (constellation)蠍虎座
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 蝎

What does 蝎子 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝎

It is pronounced 'xiē' with a high first tone.

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