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蝴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
蝴
hú
butterfly
n, 15 strokes, radical 虫, Medium
hú(hu2)hu T2
1butterfly
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March 24, 2026
蝴hú(hu2)
The character 蝴 (hú) means 'butterfly' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to the insect known for its colorful wings and is often associated with beauty and transformation. In various contexts, it can symbolize love, freedom, and the fleeting nature of life.
Strokes15Radical虫Frequency#2435DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, butterflies are often associated with love and marital happiness. The image of butterflies is frequently used in traditional art and literature, symbolizing joy and a carefree spirit.
Memory tip
Imagine a butterfly fluttering about, its wings shaped like the character 蝴. The top part resembles the wings, while the bottom part suggests a body. To remember the pronunciation 'hú', think of the sound a butterfly makes as it flits through a garden—'hú' as in 'whoo, look at that beautiful butterfly!'
Meanings of 蝴
hú(hu2)
1butterfly
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蝴 means.
About 蝴
蝴Simplified
15Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蝴
Podcast: 蝴
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AI study notes for 蝴
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 蝴 with similar characters; it is specifically for 'butterfly'. It is an informal term, often used in poetry and everyday language when describing nature. Common collocations include phrases like '蝴蝶舞' (butterfly dance) or '蝴蝶结' (butterfly knot).
HSK Study Tips
While 蝴 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to HSK Level 2 and 3 words related to nature and animals. Students should focus on similar animal characters and their radicals to build a broader vocabulary.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蝴 with other insect-related characters, particularly 蜂 (fēng, bee) or 蟲 (chóng, insect). Remember that 蝴 specifically refers to 'butterfly', while the others denote different insects.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蝴
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 蝴 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.
蝴 = 虫 + 胡. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 蝴
IDS Structure⿰虫胡
蝴Full character
=
虫chong2
left
胡Hu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 蝴?
How to say butterfly in Chinese
“butterfly” in Chinese is蝴hú
The character 蝴 (hú) means 'butterfly' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to the insect known for its colorful wings and is often associated with beauty and transformation. In various contexts, it can symbolize love, freedom, and the fleeting nature of life.
When to use 蝴
Be careful not to confuse 蝴 with similar characters; it is specifically for 'butterfly'. It is an informal term, often used in poetry and everyday language when describing nature. Common collocations include phrases like '蝴蝶舞' (butterfly dance) or '蝴蝶结' (butterfly knot).
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蝴 with other insect-related characters, particularly 蜂 (fēng, bee) or 蟲 (chóng, insect). Remember that 蝴 specifically refers to 'butterfly', while the others denote different insects.
Write 蝴
蝴
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Practice writing 蝴 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 蝴
蝴 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 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
她现在正在续写达夫妮·杜穆里埃的小说《____蝶梦》。
She is currently writing a sequel to Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca"
Example sentences for 蝴 (13)
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1
她现在正在续写达夫妮·杜穆里埃的小说《蝴蝶梦》。
tā xiànzài zhèngzài xù xiě dá fū nī· dù mù lǐ āi de xiǎoshuō《 húdié mèng》。
She is currently writing a sequel to Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca"
An isolated mountaintop in central Mexico is covered each winter with orange - and - black monarch butterflies.
7
我甚至在一条砖砌小巷里看到了一只不合时令的蝴蝶.
wǒ shènzhì zài yī tiáo zhuān qì xiǎo xiàng lǐ kàndào le yī zhī bù gě shí lìng de húdié.
I even saw in a brick passageway an untimely butterfly.
8
花园里有很多漂亮的蝴蝶。
Huāyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō piàoliang de húdié.
There are many beautiful butterflies in the garden.
9
小明看到了一只蓝色的蝴蝶。
Xiǎo Míng kàn dào le yī zhī lán sè de húdié.
Xiao Ming saw a blue butterfly.
10
蝴蝶在花上飞来飞去。
Húdié zài huā shàng fēi lái fēi qù.
The butterfly is flying around the flowers.
11
我想抓一只蝴蝶，但是它飞走了。
Wǒ xiǎng zhuā yī zhī húdié, dànshì tā fēi zǒu le.
I wanted to catch a butterfly, but it flew away.
12
公园里有一只黄色的蝴蝶。
Gōngyuán lǐ yǒu yī zhī huángsè de húdié.
There is a yellow butterfly in the park.
13
她很喜欢看蝴蝶飞舞。
Tā hěn xǐhuan kàn húdié fēiwǔ.
She really likes watching butterflies dance.
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Cultural Notes for 蝴
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, butterflies are often seen as symbols of transformation and rebirth, similar to their representation in Chinese culture, but they may also be more commonly associated with spring and renewal.
Word Family of 蝴
Words containing this character4
蝴蝶húdiébutterfly
蝴蝶结húdiéjiébow蝴蝶結
蝴húbutterfly
蝴蝶花húdiéhuāiris
Exercise 1 of 3
Words with 蝴
What does 蝴蝶 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 蝴
It is pronounced as 'hú', with a rising tone.
Yes, '蝴蝶梦' (húdiémèng) refers to the 'butterfly dream', a famous philosophical concept from Zhuangzi.
The radical is '虫' (insect), which indicates that this character relates to insects.
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