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蠼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蠼qúearwigx, 26 strokes, radical 虫
蠼qúearwig 蠼螋unknown, 26 strokes, radical 虫
qú(qu2) T2
  1. 1earwig
  2. 2earwig 蠼螋
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蠼qú(qu2)

The character 蠼 (qú) refers specifically to the earwig, a type of insect known for its distinctive pincers. Commonly associated with gardens, earwigs are often considered pests, especially in agricultural contexts. The character is rarely used in everyday conversation but may appear in literature or entomology discussions.

Strokes26Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, insects like the earwig may not be as commonly discussed as in Western contexts, where they are sometimes viewed with disdain. However, in agriculture, awareness of various pests, including earwigs, is important for crop management.

Memory Tip

Imagine the character 蠼 as a little insect curling its pincers in a defensive posture. The radical 虫 (chóng), which means 'insect', suggests its nature, while the unique shape can help you remember its pronunciation: think of 'Q' for 'quirky' earwig with its pincers.

Meanings of 蠼

qú(qu2)
1earwig
2earwig 蠼螋
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蠼

蠼Simplified
26Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蠼

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Podcast: 蠼

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AI Study Notes for 蠼

Usage Notes

Since 蠼 is not a commonly used word, it may come up more in specific contexts like biology or gardening. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-looking characters. It's also important to use the correct tone, as confusion with other words can lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 蠼 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it shares the insect radical 虫 with other words like 昆虫 (kūnchóng, insect) and 蚊子 (wénzi, mosquito), which are more commonly studied. Focusing on these related words can help solidify your understanding of insect-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 蠼 in general conversations about insects, thinking it's common when it is not. Instead, focus on more broadly recognized terms like 昆虫 (kūnchóng) for insects.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蠼

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Etymology of 蠼

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蠼

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half矍 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 蠼? 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 蠼?

Decomposition of 蠼

IDS Structure⿰虫矍
蠼Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
矍Jue2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蠼?

How to say earwig in Chinese

“earwig” in Chinese is蠼qú

The character 蠼 (qú) refers specifically to the earwig, a type of insect known for its distinctive pincers. Commonly associated with gardens, earwigs are often considered pests, especially in agricultural contexts. The character is rarely used in everyday conversation but may appear in literature or entomology discussions.

When to use 蠼

Since 蠼 is not a commonly used word, it may come up more in specific contexts like biology or gardening. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-looking characters. It's also important to use the correct tone, as confusion with other words can lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 蠼 in general conversations about insects, thinking it's common when it is not. Instead, focus on more broadly recognized terms like 昆虫 (kūnchóng) for insects.

Write 蠼

蠼

Practice writing 蠼 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 蠼

Words Containing This Character1
蠼qúearwig 蠼螋
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蠼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蠼

It is pronounced as 'qú' with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蠼?

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.