Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蠔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蠔háooysterzg, 20 strokes, radical 虫, rank #55341, Very Hard
háo(hao2) T2
  1. 1oyster
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蠔háo(hao2)

The character 蠔 (háo) refers to 'oyster', a type of shellfish commonly found in coastal waters. It is often consumed raw, cooked, or used in various dishes, especially in Chinese cuisine. The term may also appear in discussions about seafood, nutrition, and culinary practices.

Strokes20Radical虫Frequency#55341DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, oysters are not only a delicacy but are also thought to have health benefits, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. They are often enjoyed during festivals and special occasions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant oyster (蠔) opening its shell to reveal a pearl. The character has a shell-like appearance, with the radical for 'insect' (虫) at the bottom representing its living nature. Picture the sound 'háo' as the oyster calling out for attention, inviting you to taste its delicacy.

Meanings of 蠔

háo(hao2)
1oyster
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蠔

蠔Simplified
20Strokes
虫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蠔

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蠔

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蠔

Usage Notes

When using 蠔, it's essential to remember that it is often paired with words like '生' (raw) or '炒' (stir-fried) to describe its preparation. Be cautious with tone; a mispronounced 'háo' could lead to confusion with other words. This character is more commonly used in informal contexts related to food.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蠔 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with other food-related terms at HSK 2 and above. Students should focus on pronunciation and context, especially in dining situations, to enhance their culinary vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蠔 with similar-sounding words like 蚝 (háo), which also means oyster but is more commonly used in certain regions. It's important to use 蠔 when referring to the culinary context and clarify the dish being discussed.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蠔

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 蠔 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 蠔

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

mollusk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蠔

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

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

Want the full history of 蠔? 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 蠔?

Decomposition of 蠔

IDS Structure⿰虫豪
蠔Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
豪hao2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蠔?

How to say oyster in Chinese

“oyster” in Chinese is蠔háo

The character 蠔 (háo) refers to 'oyster', a type of shellfish commonly found in coastal waters. It is often consumed raw, cooked, or used in various dishes, especially in Chinese cuisine. The term may also appear in discussions about seafood, nutrition, and culinary practices.

When to use 蠔

When using 蠔, it's essential to remember that it is often paired with words like '生' (raw) or '炒' (stir-fried) to describe its preparation. Be cautious with tone; a mispronounced 'háo' could lead to confusion with other words. This character is more commonly used in informal contexts related to food.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蠔 with similar-sounding words like 蚝 (háo), which also means oyster but is more commonly used in certain regions. It's important to use 蠔 when referring to the culinary context and clarify the dish being discussed.

Write 蠔

蠔

Practice writing 蠔 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 蠔

Words Containing This Character3
蚝háooyster蠔
蚝油oyster sauce蠔油
蚝豉dried oyster meat蠔豉
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 蚝 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蠔

Oysters can be enjoyed raw on the half shell, grilled, or baked, depending on personal preference and regional culinary traditions.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蠔?

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.