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蝴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝴húbutterflyn, 15 strokes, radical 虫, Medium
hú(hu2)hu T2
  1. 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

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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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Etymology of 蝴

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

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

Memory Hint

insect

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

Origin

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

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

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 (7)

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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 xiàn zài zhèng zài xù xiě dá fū nī· · dù mù lǐ āi de xiǎo《 shuō 《 hú》。

She is currently writing a sequel to Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca"
2
再用一段丝带，系个蝴蝶结。

zài yòng yī duàn sī dài， ， xì gè hú dié。

Add a length of ribbon tied in a bow.
3
两只绿白相间的蝴蝶扇动着翅膀从他们面前飞过.

liǎng zhī lǜ bái xiāng jiān de hú dié shàn dòng zháo chì bǎng cóng tā mén miàn qián fēi guò.

Two green - and - white butterflies fluttered past them.
4
蝴蝶发狂似地紧抱着他, 悲痛欲绝地与他诀别.

hú dié fā kuáng sì dì jǐn bào zháo tā, , bēi tòng yù jué dì yǔ tā jué.

Butterfly hugs him hysterically, then bids him a heart - rending farewell.
5
一周后蝴蝶破茧而出,绚丽夺目.

yī zhōu hòu hú dié pò jiǎn ér chū, , xuàn lì duó.

A butterfly emerged in its full splendour a week later.
6
每到冬天,墨西哥中部的一座孤山顶上就栖满一种橙褐色的大蝴蝶.

měi dào dōng tiān, , mò xī gē zhōng bù de yī zuò gū shān dǐng shàng jiù qī mǎn yī zhǒng chéng hè sè de dà hú.

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 shèn zhì zài yī tiáo zhuān qì xiǎo xiàng lǐ kàn dào le yī zhī bù hé shí líng de hú dié.

I even saw in a brick passageway an untimely butterfly.

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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bow蝴蝶結
蝴húbutterfly
蝴蝶花iris
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.

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