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March 24, 2026
蟑zhāng(zhang1)
The character 蟑 (zhāng) refers specifically to a cockroach, a common insect known for its resilience and ability to thrive in various environments. In everyday contexts, it is often associated with cleanliness and pest control, as cockroaches are generally considered undesirable in homes and other spaces.
Strokes17Radical虫Frequency#64532DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cockroaches symbolize dirtiness and poor hygiene, often featured in discussions about pest control and cleanliness. They are frequently referenced in urban life, particularly in restaurants or homes.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'zhāng' that sounds like 'zhang' and looks like a cockroach scuttling across the floor. The character 蟑 has the radical for insects (虫) at the bottom, emphasizing its meaning as an insect. Picture yourself 'zhāng'ing at the sight of a cockroach to help remember it.
Meanings of 蟑
zhāng(zhang1)
1cockroach
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蟑
蟑Simplified
17Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蟑
Podcast: 蟑
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AI Study Notes for 蟑
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a 'zhāng' that sounds like 'zhang' and looks like a cockroach scuttling across the floor. The character 蟑 has the radical for insects (虫) at the bottom, emphasizing its meaning as an insect. Picture yourself 'zhāng'ing at the sight of a cockroach to help remember it.
Usage Notes
When using 蟑, it is essential to note that it is primarily used in informal contexts. A common mistake is to confuse it with other similar insect characters, like 蟋 (xī), which means cricket. Be careful to use the correct tone (zhāng) as mispronouncing it might lead to confusion.
HSK Study Tips
Though 蟑 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be relevant for HSK learners at higher levels, especially those interested in daily life and pest-related discussions. Students should focus on recognizing the insect radical (虫) in other related words.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, cockroaches symbolize dirtiness and poor hygiene, often featured in discussions about pest control and cleanliness. They are frequently referenced in urban life, particularly in restaurants or homes.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蟑 with other similar characters due to their appearances. For instance, mistaking 蟑 for 蟋 (xī) and saying '我看到一个蟋' instead of '我看到一个蟑' would be incorrect, as they refer to different insects.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蟑
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Grammar Patterns of 蟑
蟑 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 3
Complete the Sentence
如果她宁愿去看____螂和胀饱了的袋鼠,她一定是觉得克雷杜克先生呆头呆脑.
She must find Mr. Craddock precious dull if she prefers blackbeetles and stuffed kangaroos.
Example Sentences for 蟑 (3)
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1
如果她宁愿去看蟑螂和胀饱了的袋鼠,她一定是觉得克雷杜克先生呆头呆脑.
rú guǒ tā níng yuàn qù kàn zhāng láng hé zhàng bǎo le de dài shǔ, , tā yī dìng shì jué dé kè léi dù kè xiān shēng dāi tóu dāi.
She must find Mr. Craddock precious dull if she prefers blackbeetles and stuffed kangaroos.
2
他发现自己的哥哥住在一套破旧肮脏、蟑螂肆虐的公寓里。
tā fā xiàn zì jǐ de gē gē zhù zài yī tào pò jiù āng zāng、 、 zhāng láng sì nüè de gōng yù。
He found his brother in a seedy, roach-infested apartment.
A species of cockroach sprays a substance , ethylacrolein, that is a kind of tear gas.
Cultural Notes for 蟑
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, cockroaches symbolize dirtiness and poor hygiene, often featured in discussions about pest control and cleanliness. They are frequently referenced in urban life, particularly in restaurants or homes.
Word Family of 蟑
Words Containing This Character2
蟑螂cockroach
蟑zhāngcockroach
Exercise 1 of 2
Compound Meaning
What does 蟑螂 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蟑
蟑 specifically refers to cockroaches, while other characters like 蟋 (xī) refer to different insects such as crickets.
It is pronounced as 'zhāng' with a high-level tone.
There are no common idioms that include 蟑, but it may appear in conversations about pest control.
