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蝗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝗huánglocustn, 15 strokes, radical 虫, rank #59288, Very Hard
huáng(huang2)huang T2
  1. 1locust
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March 24, 2026

蝗huáng(huang2)

The character 蝗 (huáng) refers specifically to locusts, which are a type of grasshopper known for their swarming behavior that can lead to significant agricultural damage. This term is often used in discussions about ecology, agriculture, and food security, particularly in contexts related to pest control and crop protection.

Strokes15Radical虫Frequency#59288DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, locusts have been historically significant as both a food source and a pest. Traditionally, they are often mentioned in agricultural texts and folklore, where they are seen as a symbol of natural disaster during harvest times.

Memory Tip

Think of 蝗 (huáng) as a 'huge swarm' of locusts descending on a field. The character contains the radical 虫 (insect) at the bottom, which hints at its meaning related to pests. Imagine a 'huge' (huáng sounds like 'huge') cloud of locusts buzzing loudly as they consume everything in sight.

Meanings of 蝗

huáng(huang2)
1locust
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蝗 means.

About 蝗

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

Podcast: 蝗

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Podcast: 蝗

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AI Study Notes for 蝗

Quick Contrast

蝗 (huáng) vs 草虫 (cǎo chóng) — choose 蝗 for the specific reference to locusts, while 草虫 is a more general term for grasshoppers.

Usage Notes

When using 蝗, ensure you are in the correct context of discussing insects or agricultural topics, as it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse 蝗 with other insect characters like 蚂 (mǎ, ant) or 蚊 (wén, mosquito). Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蝗 is not part of HSK vocabulary, it is useful for advanced learners interested in environmental science or agriculture. Focus on recognizing this character in written texts related to agriculture and understanding its nuances in context.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 蝗 when referring to grasshoppers in general, but it specifically denotes locusts. For example, saying '我看到很多蝗在田里' (I saw many locusts in the field) is correct, but using it to mean any grasshopper is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝗

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Jason Explains 蝗 to You

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Etymology of 蝗

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

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

Memory Hint

insect

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

Origin

蝗 = 虫 + 皇. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蝗

IDS Structure⿰虫皇
蝗Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
皇Huang2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 蝗?

How to say locust in Chinese

“locust” in Chinese is蝗huáng

The character 蝗 (huáng) refers specifically to locusts, which are a type of grasshopper known for their swarming behavior that can lead to significant agricultural damage. This term is often used in discussions about ecology, agriculture, and food security, particularly in contexts related to pest control and crop protection.

When to use 蝗

When using 蝗, ensure you are in the correct context of discussing insects or agricultural topics, as it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse 蝗 with other insect characters like 蚂 (mǎ, ant) or 蚊 (wén, mosquito). Remember to use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

蝗 or something close to it

蝗 (huáng) vs 草虫 (cǎo chóng) — choose 蝗 for the specific reference to locusts, while 草虫 is a more general term for grasshoppers.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 蝗 when referring to grasshoppers in general, but it specifically denotes locusts. For example, saying '我看到很多蝗在田里' (I saw many locusts in the field) is correct, but using it to mean any grasshopper is incorrect.

Write 蝗

蝗

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

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Grammar Patterns of 蝗

蝗 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

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

本图所示为____虫的纵剖面.

This illustration shows a vertical section through the locust.

Example Sentences for 蝗 (1)

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1
本图所示为蝗虫的纵剖面.

běn tú suǒ shì wéi huáng chóng de zòng pōu miàn.

This illustration shows a vertical section through the locust.

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Word Family of 蝗

Words Containing This Character3
蝗虫locust蝗蟲
蝗huánglocust
飞蝗flying locusts飛蝗
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 蝗

What does 蝗虫 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝗

蝗 specifically refers to locusts, while other characters like 蚂 (ant) and 蚊 (mosquito) refer to different insects, each with unique characteristics.

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