Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
狳 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
狳yúarmadillox, 10 strokes, radical 犭
yú(yu2) T2
  1. 1armadillo
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

狳yú(yu2)

The character 狳 (yú) refers to the armadillo, a small mammal known for its armored shell. This word is primarily used in zoological contexts or discussions about wildlife, and it may not be commonly encountered in everyday conversation.

Strokes10Radical犭
Cultural Note

In some regions of China, the armadillo is not commonly known, and the term may be more familiar to those interested in wildlife or who have traveled abroad. This highlights the diversity of animal life and cultural awareness in different regions.

Memory Tip

Imagine an 'armored' creature rolling into a ball to protect itself, like the letter 'Y' in yú, which can resemble an armadillo's shape. The radical '犭' (dog) suggests it is an animal, helping you associate the character with a creature.

Meanings of 狳

yú(yu2)
1armadillo
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 狳

狳Simplified
10Strokes
犭Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 狳

JasonAmy

Podcast: 狳

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 狳

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse the pronunciation with similar-sounding words. It's important to use the correct tone (second tone) to avoid misunderstandings. The word is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it primarily appears in scientific discussions.

HSK Study Tips

While 狳 (yú) is not included in HSK levels, understanding this character can enhance your vocabulary related to animals and nature. Focus on other animal-related vocabulary to build contextual knowledge.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes mispronounce 狳 as 'yū' (first tone) instead of 'yú' (second tone), which can lead to confusion. Always remember to use the correct tone to convey the meaning accurately.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 狳

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 狳 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 狳

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

animal

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 狳

  1. 1The meaning half犭 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half余 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayanimal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 狳? 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 狳?

Decomposition of 狳

IDS Structure⿰犭余
狳Full Character
=
犭quan3
left
余Yu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 狳?

How to say armadillo in Chinese

“armadillo” in Chinese is狳yú

The character 狳 (yú) refers to the armadillo, a small mammal known for its armored shell. This word is primarily used in zoological contexts or discussions about wildlife, and it may not be commonly encountered in everyday conversation.

When to use 狳

Learners often confuse the pronunciation with similar-sounding words. It's important to use the correct tone (second tone) to avoid misunderstandings. The word is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it primarily appears in scientific discussions.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes mispronounce 狳 as 'yū' (first tone) instead of 'yú' (second tone), which can lead to confusion. Always remember to use the correct tone to convey the meaning accurately.

Write 狳

狳

Practice writing 狳 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 狳

狳 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Complete the Sentence

犰____有角质鳞片的护甲.

The armadillo has a protective shell of bony plates.

Example Sentences for 狳 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
犰狳有角质鳞片的护甲.

qiú yú yǒu jiǎo zhì lín piàn de hù jiǎ.

The armadillo has a protective shell of bony plates.

Word Family of 狳

Words Containing This Character2
犰狳armadillo
狳yúarmadillo
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 犰狳 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 狳

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

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 狳?

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.