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蚍 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蚍pímussels, shellfishi, 10 strokes, radical 虫
pí(pi2) T2
  1. 1mussels, shellfish
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蚍pí(pi2)

The character 蚍 (pí) refers to a type of shellfish, specifically mussels, and is often associated with other seafood. It is not commonly used on its own but appears in compound words, such as 蚍蜉 (pí fú), which refers to a specific kind of small creature. This character is more frequently encountered in literary contexts or specialized discussions about marine life.

Strokes10Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, shellfish like mussels are valued for their flavor and nutritional benefits, often featured in coastal regions' dishes. The character 蚍 reflects the appreciation for diverse marine life in Chinese culture.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small shellfish, like a mussel, hiding under a rock. The character 蚍 resembles a shell with legs, indicating its shellfish nature. The pronunciation 'pí' can be remembered by picturing a 'pea' (as in a small round object) that hides just like the shellfish do.

Meanings of 蚍

pí(pi2)
1mussels, shellfish
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蚍

蚍Simplified
10Strokes
虫Radical
成语chéngyǔidiom (id.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蚍

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蚍

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AI Study Notes for 蚍

Usage Notes

蚍 is rarely used in conversation and is more prevalent in written texts related to marine biology or literature. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. Common collocations include terms related to seafood or specific species when discussing marine life.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蚍 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of specialized terminology. Students should focus on the context in which this character appears, particularly in literature or biology, to grasp its full meaning.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 蚍 with other similar-looking characters, such as 蚊 (wēn, meaning mosquito). For example, saying 蚍 instead of 蚊 when talking about insects would be incorrect. Always double-check the context to ensure proper usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蚍

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Etymology of 蚍

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

mollusk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蚍

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half比 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymollusk
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

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

Want the full history of 蚍? 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 蚍?

Decomposition of 蚍

IDS Structure⿰虫比
蚍Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
比Bi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蚍?

How to say mussels, shellfish in Chinese

“mussels, shellfish” in Chinese is蚍pí

The character 蚍 (pí) refers to a type of shellfish, specifically mussels, and is often associated with other seafood. It is not commonly used on its own but appears in compound words, such as 蚍蜉 (pí fú), which refers to a specific kind of small creature. This character is more frequently encountered in literary contexts or specialized discussions about marine life.

When to use 蚍

蚍 is rarely used in conversation and is more prevalent in written texts related to marine biology or literature. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding characters. Common collocations include terms related to seafood or specific species when discussing marine life.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 蚍 with other similar-looking characters, such as 蚊 (wēn, meaning mosquito). For example, saying 蚍 instead of 蚊 when talking about insects would be incorrect. Always double-check the context to ensure proper usage.

Write 蚍

蚍

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

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Word Family of 蚍

Words Containing This Character4
蚍pía type of large ant
蚍蜉撼树lit. an ant trying to shake a tree蚍蜉撼樹
蚍蜉撼大树fig. to overrate one's own strength蚍蜉撼大樹
蚍蜉a type of large ant
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 蚍 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蚍

No, 蚍 is more often found in written texts and specialized discussions rather than in everyday speech.

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