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蛏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛏chēngrazor clamn, 11 strokes, radical 虫
蛏chēngmusselunknown, 11 strokes, radical 虫
蛏chēngSolecurtus constrictaunknown, 11 strokes, radical 虫
chēng(cheng1) T1
  1. 1razor clam
  2. 2mussel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蛏(蟶)chēng(cheng1)

The character 蛏 (chēng) refers to a type of marine mollusk known as the razor clam, which is characterized by its elongated shell that resembles a razor blade. It is commonly found in sandy or muddy coastal environments and is often enjoyed as a delicacy in various seafood dishes, especially in coastal regions of China.

Strokes11Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese coastal cities, 蛏 is often featured in local cuisine, particularly in dishes that highlight fresh seafood, reflecting the country's deep-rooted relationship with its maritime resources and culinary traditions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clam that is so sharp it could cut through the water like a 'razor.' The character 蛏 has the radical 虫 (insect), hinting at its nature as a sea creature, while the sound 'chēng' can remind you of the 'ching' sound when you slice through something sharp like a clam's shell.

Meanings of 蛏

chēng(cheng1)
1razor clam
2mussel
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蛏

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

Podcast: 蛏

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Podcast: 蛏

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AI Study Notes for 蛏

Usage Notes

This word is relatively informal and is mainly used in culinary contexts when discussing seafood. Be careful not to confuse it with similar seafood terms like 蚌 (bàng), which refers to a different type of clam. The correct pronunciation is crucial, as mispronouncing the tone could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 蛏 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it offers a connection to HSK Level 3 terms related to food and marine life. Focusing on related seafood vocabulary can enhance your understanding of dining and culinary conversations in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛏 with similar seafood terms, such as 蚌 (bàng), which refers to a different type of clam. Remember that 蛏 specifically refers to razor clams, not other clams or shellfish.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛏

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Etymology of 蛏

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

mollusk

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蛏

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half圣 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 蛏? 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 蛏?

Decomposition of 蛏

IDS Structure⿰虫圣
蛏Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
圣sheng4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蛏?

How to say razor clam in Chinese

“razor clam” in Chinese is蛏chēng

The character 蛏 (chēng) refers to a type of marine mollusk known as the razor clam, which is characterized by its elongated shell that resembles a razor blade. It is commonly found in sandy or muddy coastal environments and is often enjoyed as a delicacy in various seafood dishes, especially in coastal regions of China.

When to use 蛏

This word is relatively informal and is mainly used in culinary contexts when discussing seafood. Be careful not to confuse it with similar seafood terms like 蚌 (bàng), which refers to a different type of clam. The correct pronunciation is crucial, as mispronouncing the tone could lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蛏 with similar seafood terms, such as 蚌 (bàng), which refers to a different type of clam. Remember that 蛏 specifically refers to razor clams, not other clams or shellfish.

Write 蛏

蛏

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

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Word Family of 蛏

Words Containing This Character1
蛏chēngmussel蟶
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蛏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛏

You can say: '我喜欢吃蛏子。' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī chēngzi.) which means 'I like to eat razor clams.'

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蛏?

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.