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螋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
螋sōuearwig, millipede, spiderx, 15 strokes, radical 虫
螋sōuearwig 蠼螋unknown, 15 strokes, radical 虫
sōu(sou1) T1
  1. 1earwig, millipede, spider
  2. 2earwig 蠼螋
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

螋sōu(sou1)

The character 螋 (sōu) primarily refers to the earwig, a type of insect known for its distinctive pincers. It can also denote similar creatures like millipedes and spiders in certain contexts. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, often appearing in more specialized discussions about entomology.

Strokes15Radical虫
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, some insects, including the earwig, are sometimes referenced for their medicinal properties, reflecting a broader cultural connection to nature and its various creatures.

Memory Tip

Imagine an earwig with its pincers shaped like the character 螋. The left side looks like a bug with its legs, and the right side resembles the pincers, which are prominent features of the earwig. Remember that 'sōu' sounds like 'sow'—imagine sowing seeds while avoiding these bugs!

Meanings of 螋

sōu(sou1)
1earwig, millipede, spider
2earwig 蠼螋
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 螋

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

Podcast: 螋

JasonAmy

Podcast: 螋

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 螋

Usage Notes

When using 螋, be aware that it is not a common word in daily conversation, often limited to scientific or educational contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters; ensure you use the correct character for the specific insect you intend to refer to. It's more formal and should be used in contexts discussing biology or nature.

HSK Study Tips

As 螋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, students at various levels can benefit from recognizing this word as part of specialized vocabulary related to insects. Focus on the pronunciation and the context in which you might encounter the term, especially in academic or scientific texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 螋 with other characters related to insects, such as 螳 (táng, mantis) or 蚊 (wén, mosquito). Make sure to practice distinguishing them in both writing and speaking.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 螋

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Etymology of 螋

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

insect

Semantic (meaning)虫
+
Phonetic (sound)叟
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 螋

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half叟 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayinsect
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 螋? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 螋?

Decomposition of 螋

IDS Structure⿰虫叟
螋Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
叟sou3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 螋?

How to say earwig, millipede, spider in Chinese

“earwig, millipede, spider” in Chinese is螋sōu

The character 螋 (sōu) primarily refers to the earwig, a type of insect known for its distinctive pincers. It can also denote similar creatures like millipedes and spiders in certain contexts. This character is less commonly used in everyday conversation, often appearing in more specialized discussions about entomology.

When to use 螋

When using 螋, be aware that it is not a common word in daily conversation, often limited to scientific or educational contexts. A common mistake is confusing it with similar characters; ensure you use the correct character for the specific insect you intend to refer to. It's more formal and should be used in contexts discussing biology or nature.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 螋 with other characters related to insects, such as 螳 (táng, mantis) or 蚊 (wén, mosquito). Make sure to practice distinguishing them in both writing and speaking.

Write 螋

螋

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 螋

Words Containing This Character1
螋sōuearwig 蠼螋
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 螋 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 螋

It means earwig, but can also refer to similar insects like millipedes and spiders.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 螋?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.