Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
蠼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蠼qúearwigx, 26 strokes, radical 虫
蠼qúearwig 蠼螋unknown, 26 strokes, radical 虫
qú(qu2)qu 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

By ear

Play it, then pick what 蠼 means.

About 蠼

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

Podcast: 蠼

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蠼

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

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

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

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

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 蠼 to You

Let me explain 蠼 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 蠼 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

How Well Do You Know 蠼?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 蠼 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

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
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

蠼 = 虫 + 矍. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 蠼

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

Parts

Which of these is part 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

Ask Jason

Have a question about 蠼?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 215 AI credits.

Word Family of 蠼

Words containing this character1
蠼qúearwig 蠼螋

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab