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蝣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
yóumayfly; Ephemera strigatax, 15 strokes, radical 虫, Very Hard
yóu(you2) T2
  1. 1mayfly; Ephemera strigata
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March 24, 2026

yóu(you2)

蝣 (yóu) refers to a type of mayfly, specifically known as Ephemera strigata. These insects are noted for their short adult lifespan and are often found near water bodies. In Chinese culture, mayflies symbolize transience and the fleeting nature of life.

Strokes15RadicalFrequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, mayflies often represent the concept of 'ephemerality,' reflecting philosophical ideas about the transient nature of life and beauty, which is a prevalent theme in poetry.

Memory Tip

Imagine a 'youthful' mayfly dancing over a 'yonder' stream, representing its brief life. The character 蝣 has the '虫' (insect) radical, reminding you that this is an insect, and the sound 'yóu' can be linked to 'youth,' emphasizing its fleeting existence.

Meanings of 蝣

yóu(you2)
1mayfly; Ephemera strigata
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蝣

Simplified
15Strokes
Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蝣

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AI Study Notes for 蝣

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a 'youthful' mayfly dancing over a 'yonder' stream, representing its brief life. The character 蝣 has the '虫' (insect) radical, reminding you that this is an insect, and the sound 'yóu' can be linked to 'youth,' emphasizing its fleeting existence.

Usage Notes

蝣 is a formal term and is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Learners should be aware that it may appear more in scientific contexts or literature. Ensure correct pronunciation of the third tone, as mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

While 蝣 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it can be connected to words related to insects and nature, such as 蟲 (chóng, insect) and 昆虫 (kūnchóng, insect). Focus on the context of nature and ephemeral qualities when learning.

Cultural Note

In Chinese literature, mayflies often represent the concept of 'ephemerality,' reflecting philosophical ideas about the transient nature of life and beauty, which is a prevalent theme in poetry.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蝣 with other insect-related characters due to similar pronunciations. For example, mixing it up with 蟲 (chóng) which means insect, is common. Remember that 蝣 specifically refers to mayflies.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝣

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Etymology of 蝣

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 蝣?

Decomposition of 蝣

IDS Structure⿰虫斿
Full Character
=
chong2
left
you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蝣?

Write 蝣

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

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Cultural Notes for 蝣

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese literature, mayflies often represent the concept of 'ephemerality,' reflecting philosophical ideas about the transient nature of life and beauty, which is a prevalent theme in poetry.

Word Family of 蝣

Words Containing This Character2
蜉蝣mayfly
yóuEphemera strigata
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蜉蝣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝣

Mayflies symbolize the fleeting nature of life, often appearing in poetry and literature to express themes of transience.