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蟟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蟟liáocicadazg, 18 strokes, radical 虫
liáo(liao2) T2
  1. 1cicada
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蟟liáo(liao2)

The character 蟟 (liáo) refers to a cicada, an insect known for its distinctive sound during the summer months. Commonly used in literary contexts, it symbolizes rebirth and immortality in Chinese culture, as cicadas emerge from their nymph stage after several years underground.

Strokes18Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, cicadas are often associated with summer and are seen as symbols of transformation and the cycle of life, reflecting themes found in classical poetry.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cicada (蟟) perched on a tree, its body resembling the radical for 'insect' (虫). The sound 'liáo' can be remembered by thinking of a cicada's loud, melodic calls echoing through the summer air.

Meanings of 蟟

liáo(liao2)
1cicada
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蟟

蟟Simplified
18Strokes
虫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蟟

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Podcast: 蟟

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AI Study Notes for 蟟

Usage Notes

This character is relatively rare in everyday conversation, more often appearing in poetry or literature. Learners should pay attention to the tone, as using the wrong tone could lead to misunderstandings. Typical collocations include '蟟蜴' (liáo yì), referring to the cicada's relation to lizards.

HSK Study Tips

Though 蟟 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it could be beneficial for students interested in literature or nature. Focus on recognizing the character in context and understanding its symbolic meanings, especially in poems.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 蟟 with other insect-related characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, mixing it up with 蟲 (chóng), which is a more general term for 'insect'. Always ensure you are using the correct character for cicadas specifically.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蟟

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Etymology of 蟟

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蟟

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half尞 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 蟟? 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 蟟?

Decomposition of 蟟

IDS Structure⿰虫尞
蟟Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
尞liao4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蟟?

How to say cicada in Chinese

“cicada” in Chinese is蟟liáo

The character 蟟 (liáo) refers to a cicada, an insect known for its distinctive sound during the summer months. Commonly used in literary contexts, it symbolizes rebirth and immortality in Chinese culture, as cicadas emerge from their nymph stage after several years underground.

When to use 蟟

This character is relatively rare in everyday conversation, more often appearing in poetry or literature. Learners should pay attention to the tone, as using the wrong tone could lead to misunderstandings. Typical collocations include '蟟蜴' (liáo yì), referring to the cicada's relation to lizards.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 蟟 with other insect-related characters, leading to incorrect usage. For example, mixing it up with 蟲 (chóng), which is a more general term for 'insect'. Always ensure you are using the correct character for cicadas specifically.

Write 蟟

蟟

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

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Word Family of 蟟

Words Containing This Character1
蟟liáocicada (old)
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蟟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蟟

It means 'cicada', a type of insect known for its loud calls.

Jason Recommends

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