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March 24, 2026
昆虫(昆蟲)kūnchóng(kun1chong2)
昆虫 refers to insects, which are a vast class of small, often winged creatures characterized by a three-part body structure (head, thorax, abdomen) and exoskeleton. This term is commonly used in biological and ecological contexts, as well as in everyday discussions about nature and pests.
Strokes14Frequency#8037DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
昆虫 have significant roles in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional medicine and agriculture. For example, certain insects are believed to possess healing properties, and insect collections can be a popular hobby among nature enthusiasts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a king (昆) sitting on a throne made of insects (虫). The character 昆 looks like a king, while 虫 can remind you of crawling creatures. Together they form the word for 'insect' in Chinese, pronounced 'kun chong'.
Meanings of 昆虫
kūnchóng(kun1chong2)
1insect
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 昆虫
昆虫Simplified
昆蟲Traditional
14Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8037Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 昆虫
Podcast: 昆虫
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AI Study Notes for 昆虫
Quick Contrast
蚂蚁 (mǎyǐ, ant) — 昆虫 is a broader category that includes many types of insects, while 蚂蚁 specifically refers to a single type of insect.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 昆虫; it’s kun1 chong2. A common mistake is to confuse the measure word with others; 隻 (zhī) is often misused instead of the correct measure word for insects. In scientific contexts, this word is often paired with terms like '生态' (ecology) or '研究' (research).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 昆虫 connects well with other biological terms you might encounter at this level. Focus on understanding its usage in context and related vocabulary, such as '生态系统' (ecosystem) and '生物' (organism).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 昆虫 with 虫 (chóng), which is a more general term for bugs. For example, saying '我有很多虫在家里' (I have many insects at home) instead of '我有很多昆虫在家里' can lead to ambiguity about the specific type of bugs.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 昆虫
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昆虫 refers to insects, which are a vast class of small, often winged creatures characterized by a three-part body structure (head, thorax, abdomen) and exoskeleton. This term is commonly used in biological and ecological contexts, as well as in everyday discussions about nature and pests.
When to use 昆虫
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 昆虫; it’s kun1 chong2. A common mistake is to confuse the measure word with others; 隻 (zhī) is often misused instead of the correct measure word for insects. In scientific contexts, this word is often paired with terms like '生态' (ecology) or '研究' (research).
昆虫 or something close to it
蚂蚁 (mǎyǐ, ant) — 昆虫 is a broader category that includes many types of insects, while 蚂蚁 specifically refers to a single type of insect.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 昆虫 with 虫 (chóng), which is a more general term for bugs. For example, saying '我有很多虫在家里' (I have many insects at home) instead of '我有很多昆虫在家里' can lead to ambiguity about the specific type of bugs.
Write 昆虫
昆
虫
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Grammar Patterns of 昆虫
昆虫 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
我继续研究飞蛾，并将研究范围扩展到其他____。
I continued studying moths, and branched out to other insects.
Example Sentences for 昆虫 (9)
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1
我继续研究飞蛾，并将研究范围扩展到其他昆虫。
wǒ jì xù yán jiū fēi é， ， bìng jiāng yán jiū fàn wéi kuò zhǎn dào qí tā kūn。
I continued studying moths, and branched out to other insects.
2
蜜蜂之间所用的交流方式是昆虫中最为复杂的方式之一。
mì fēng zhī jiān suǒ yòng de jiāo liú fāng shì shì kūn chóng zhōng zuì wéi fù zá de fāng shì zhī yī。
Honeybees use one of the most sophisticated communication systems of any insect.
3
昆虫很讨厌皮肤内维生素的气味。
kūn chóng hěn tǎo yàn pí fū nèi wéi shēng sù de qì wèi。
The odour of vitamin in skin is repugnant to insects.
