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蚬 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蚬xiǎnclam, bivalve; Cyclina orientalisnz, 10 strokes, radical 虫
xiǎn(xian3) T3
  1. 1clam, bivalve; Cyclina orientalis
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蚬(蜆)xiǎn(xian3)

The character 蚬 (xiǎn) refers to a type of clam, specifically the species Cyclina orientalis, which is commonly found in coastal regions. It is often used in culinary contexts, especially in dishes featuring seafood. This term may also appear in discussions about marine life or ecology.

Strokes10Radical虫
Cultural Note

In coastal areas of China, clams like 蚬 are popular in local cuisine, often featured in soups and stir-fries. This reflects the importance of seafood in Chinese dietary habits and cultural practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clam (蚬) that holds a secret (the sound 'xiǎn' is like 'sneak' in English). Visualize this clam hiding in the sand, only revealing itself when the tide comes in, which reinforces the idea of something being hidden or revealed.

Meanings of 蚬

xiǎn(xian3)
1clam, bivalve; Cyclina orientalis
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蚬

蚬Simplified
蜆Traditional
10Strokes
虫Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蚬

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蚬

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蚬

Usage Notes

蚬 is primarily used in informal contexts, especially when discussing food or marine life. Common phrases might include 蚬肉 (xiǎn ròu, clam meat) or 蚬子 (xiǎn zi, small clams). Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蚬 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be connected to the study of marine life and culinary terms often found in HSK Level 3 and above. Focus on recognizing the character in context, especially in food-related discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蚬 with other seafood terms, like 鳝 (shàn, eel). Ensure you remember that 蚬 specifically refers to clams. A common mistake is to use 蚬 when referring to all shellfish, whereas it should only be used for this specific type.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蚬

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Etymology of 蚬

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

mollusk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蚬

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half见 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 蚬? 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 蚬?

Decomposition of 蚬

IDS Structure⿰虫见
蚬Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
见jian4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蚬?

How to say clam, bivalve; Cyclina orientalis in Chinese

“clam, bivalve; Cyclina orientalis” in Chinese is蚬xiǎn

The character 蚬 (xiǎn) refers to a type of clam, specifically the species Cyclina orientalis, which is commonly found in coastal regions. It is often used in culinary contexts, especially in dishes featuring seafood. This term may also appear in discussions about marine life or ecology.

When to use 蚬

蚬 is primarily used in informal contexts, especially when discussing food or marine life. Common phrases might include 蚬肉 (xiǎn ròu, clam meat) or 蚬子 (xiǎn zi, small clams). Be cautious with the tone; using the wrong tone can lead to confusion with similar-sounding words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蚬 with other seafood terms, like 鳝 (shàn, eel). Ensure you remember that 蚬 specifically refers to clams. A common mistake is to use 蚬 when referring to all shellfish, whereas it should only be used for this specific type.

Write 蚬

蚬

Practice writing 蚬 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 蚬

Words Containing This Character1
蚬xiǎnCyclina orientalis蜆
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蚬 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蚬

It is pronounced as 'xiǎn' with a third tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蚬?

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.