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蝶 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
蝶
dié
butterfly
HSK 7, nz, 15 strokes, radical 虫, rank #21598, Very Hard
dié(die2)die T2
1butterfly
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
蝶(蜨)dié(die2)
The character 蝶 (dié) refers to a butterfly, a symbol of beauty and transformation in various cultures. In Mandarin, it is often used in poetic contexts to evoke grace and delicacy. Common phrases include '蝴蝶效应' (húdié xiàoyìng), meaning 'butterfly effect,' which describes how small changes can lead to significant consequences.
Strokes15Radical虫Frequency#21598DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, butterflies symbolize love and joy, often appearing in art and poetry. They are also associated with transformation and the fleeting nature of life, as seen in traditional stories about souls transforming into butterflies.
Memory tip
Imagine a delicate butterfly fluttering through a flower garden, its wings painted with vibrant colors. The character 蝶 is made up of the radical 虫 (insect), reminding you that a butterfly is indeed an insect, combined with the phonetic component 也 (yě) which sounds similar to 'ye,' helping you remember the pronunciation 'dié'.
Meanings of 蝶
dié(die2)
1butterfly
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 蝶 means.
About 蝶
蝶Simplified
蜨Traditional
15Strokes
虫Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#21598Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7
Podcast: 蝶
Podcast: 蝶
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AI study notes for 蝶
Quick Contrast
蝶 (dié) vs 昆虫 (kūnchóng) — use 蝶 when specifically referring to butterflies, while 昆虫 is a general term for insects.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 蝶 with similar characters like 蝴 (hú), which means 'butterfly' in a different context. The tone is crucial; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words. Use 蝶 in literary or artistic contexts rather than everyday conversation, as it carries a more formal tone.
HSK Study Tips
Although 蝶 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects well with other animal-related vocabulary. Students should focus on recognizing the components of characters and their meanings, especially in poetic or literary texts. Try to practice its usage in phrases to enhance retention.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 蝶 with other similar characters like 蝴 or 罂 (yīng), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我看到蝴蝶' (wǒ kàn dào hú) instead of '我看到蝶' (wǒ kàn dào dié) misuses the character and alters the intended meaning.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蝶
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 蝶 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.
蝶 = 虫 + 枼. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 蝶
IDS Structure⿰虫枼
蝶Full character
=
虫chong2
left
枼ye4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 蝶?
How to say butterfly in Chinese
“butterfly” in Chinese is蝶dié
The character 蝶 (dié) refers to a butterfly, a symbol of beauty and transformation in various cultures. In Mandarin, it is often used in poetic contexts to evoke grace and delicacy. Common phrases include '蝴蝶效应' (húdié xiàoyìng), meaning 'butterfly effect,' which describes how small changes can lead to significant consequences.
When to use 蝶
Learners often confuse 蝶 with similar characters like 蝴 (hú), which means 'butterfly' in a different context. The tone is crucial; mispronouncing it could lead to confusion with other words. Use 蝶 in literary or artistic contexts rather than everyday conversation, as it carries a more formal tone.
蝶 or something close to it
蝶 (dié) vs 昆虫 (kūnchóng) — use 蝶 when specifically referring to butterflies, while 昆虫 is a general term for insects.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 蝶 with other similar characters like 蝴 or 罂 (yīng), leading to incorrect meanings. For example, saying '我看到蝴蝶' (wǒ kàn dào hú) instead of '我看到蝶' (wǒ kàn dào dié) misuses the character and alters the intended meaning.
Write 蝶
蝶
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Practice writing 蝶 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 蝶
蝶 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《蝴____梦》。
She is currently writing a sequel to Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca"
Example sentences for 蝶 (8)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
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.
8
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.
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Cultural Notes for 蝶
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
While butterflies are universally recognized as symbols of beauty and change, in Western cultures, they often symbolize the soul or rebirth, whereas in Chinese culture, they are more closely related to love and marital happiness.
Word Family of 蝶
Words containing this character12
蝴蝶húdiébutterfly
蝶diébutterfly
蝴蝶结húdiéjiébow蝴蝶結
蝶泳diéyǒngbutterfly stroke (swimming)
招蜂引蝶zhāofēngyǐndiéto flirt
蝶骨diégǔsphenoid bone (front of the temple)
胡蝶húdiébutterfly
凤蝶fèngdiéswallowtail butterfly鳳蝶
蝴蝶花húdiéhuāiris
蛱蝶jiádiénymphalid蛺蝶
庄周梦蝶ZhuāngZhōumèngdiéZhuangzi 莊子|庄子 dreams of a butterfly (or is it the butterfly dreaming of Zhuangzi?)莊周夢蝶
蝶山区diéshānqūDieshan district of Wuzhou city 梧州市[Wúzhōushì], Guangxi蝶山區
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 蝶
What does 蝴蝶 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 蝶
The correct pronunciation is 'dié' with a rising tone.
It's best used in poetic or literary contexts; for casual conversations, use more common terms for insects.
Common phrases include '蝴蝶效应' (butterfly effect) and '蝴蝶梦' (butterfly dream).
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