Meanings of 蠕
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蠕
Podcast: 蠕
Podcast: 蠕
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 蠕
Imagine a worm wriggling through the soil. The character 蠕 has a squirmy look to it with its curves, resembling the motion of a worm. The pronunciation 'rú' can be remembered by thinking of 'rude' worms that squirm away when disturbed.
When using 蠕, be careful not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. It's typically used in informal contexts, often in descriptions of animals or insects. Common collocations include 蠕动 (rú dòng), meaning 'to wriggle' or 'to squirm,' which can be used to describe both animals and metaphorical situations.
Although 蠕 is not currently part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects well with HSK Level 3 words related to movement and animals. Students should focus on the pronunciation and the contexts in which it describes physical actions, as well as its similarities with related characters.
In traditional Chinese medicine, movements described by 蠕 are often associated with the behavior of certain creatures that are believed to have healing properties. This reflects a deeper understanding of nature and its elements in Chinese culture.
Learners often confuse 蠕 with the character for 'to crawl' (爬, pá), using it incorrectly in contexts involving larger animals. For example, saying '他在蠕' (Tā zài rú) instead of '他在爬' (Tā zài pá) when referring to a person climbing.
Pronunciation of 蠕
Drill the tone of 蠕 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 蠕
Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 需 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蝡.
insect
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 蠕?
Decomposition of 蠕
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蠕?
Write 蠕
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 蠕 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 蠕
蠕 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
觅食____虫的鸟
birds looking for worms
Example Sentences for 蠕 (2)
Reorder the Sentence
birds looking for worms
Cultural Notes for 蠕
In traditional Chinese medicine, movements described by 蠕 are often associated with the behavior of certain creatures that are believed to have healing properties. This reflects a deeper understanding of nature and its elements in Chinese culture.
Word Family of 蠕
Compound Meaning
What does 蠕动 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蠕
No, 蠕 is not frequently used in casual conversations and is more likely to appear in literary or specialized contexts.