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蛆 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛆qūmaggotn, 11 strokes, radical 虫, rank #15356, Very Hard
qū(qu1) T1
  1. 1maggot
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蛆qū(qu1)

The character 蛆 (qū) refers to a maggot, which is the larval stage of certain flies. It is often associated with decay and is commonly used in contexts related to food spoilage or decomposition, highlighting its negative connotations in both literal and metaphorical senses.

Strokes11Radical虫Frequency#15356DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the presence of maggots can signify poor hygiene or the need for cleanliness, reflecting the importance placed on food safety and health in daily life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a squirming maggot (蛆) crawling out from under a rotten piece of fruit. The character 蛆 consists of the radical 虫, which means 'insect,' combined with the sound component 'qū.' Visualizing this helps connect the character to its meaning.

Meanings of 蛆

qū(qu1)
1maggot
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蛆

蛆Simplified
11Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛆

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蛆

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蛆

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 蛆 in conversation, as it can evoke unpleasant imagery. It is generally used in informal contexts, particularly when discussing food hygiene or decay. Avoid confusing it with other characters that have similar sounds but different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

While 蛆 is not included in the HSK levels, understanding this word can enrich vocabulary related to nature and the environment. Students at higher levels should focus on context usage and related terms like 虫 (insect) and 腐烂 (decay).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛆 with other insect-related characters like 虫 (insect) or 蚊 (mosquito). Remember that 蛆 specifically refers to maggots, which are associated with decay, while the others have different meanings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛆

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Etymology of 蛆

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 且 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蛆

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 且 represents the sound.

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

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

Want the full history of 蛆? 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 蛆?

Decomposition of 蛆

IDS Structure⿰虫且
蛆Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
且qie3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蛆?

How to say maggot in Chinese

“maggot” in Chinese is蛆qū

The character 蛆 (qū) refers to a maggot, which is the larval stage of certain flies. It is often associated with decay and is commonly used in contexts related to food spoilage or decomposition, highlighting its negative connotations in both literal and metaphorical senses.

When to use 蛆

Be cautious when using 蛆 in conversation, as it can evoke unpleasant imagery. It is generally used in informal contexts, particularly when discussing food hygiene or decay. Avoid confusing it with other characters that have similar sounds but different meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蛆 with other insect-related characters like 虫 (insect) or 蚊 (mosquito). Remember that 蛆 specifically refers to maggots, which are associated with decay, while the others have different meanings.

Write 蛆

蛆

Practice writing 蛆 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 蛆

Words Containing This Character2
蛆qūmaggot
蛆虫maggot蛆蟲
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蛆 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛆

It is pronounced as 'qū' with a first tone.

Jason Recommends

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