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蛴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛴qígrubs, maggotsx, 12 strokes, radical 虫
蛴qílarvaunknown, 12 strokes, radical 虫
蛴qímaggotunknown, 12 strokes, radical 虫
qí(qi2) T2
  1. 1grubs, maggots
  2. 2larva
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蛴(蠐)qí(qi2)

The character 蛴 (qí) refers to grubs, maggots, or larvae, typically in the context of the early developmental stage of insects. This term is often used in entomological studies or discussions about pest control. It may also appear in agricultural contexts when addressing issues related to crops and soil health.

Strokes12Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese agriculture, understanding pests such as grubs is crucial for effective farming, as they can significantly impact crop yields. This character reflects the importance of pest management in traditional and modern Chinese farming practices.

Memory Tip

Imagine a little grub named 'Q' (pronounced qí) wriggling through the dirt. The character 蛴 looks like a worm creeping along, with the left side resembling its segmented body and the right side hinting at its insect nature. Visualizing this connection can help you remember both the shape and sound.

Meanings of 蛴

qí(qi2)
1grubs, maggots
2larva
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蛴

蛴Simplified
蠐Traditional
12Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛴

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蛴

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AI Study Notes for 蛴

Usage Notes

When using 蛴, be mindful of the context, as it is more scientific or agricultural than conversational. Common collocations include terms related to agriculture or entomology, for example, 蛴虫 (qí chóng) meaning grub or larva. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蛴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be beneficial for learners interested in biology or agriculture. Students at this level should focus on recognizing the character's components and how it relates to other insect-related terms, enhancing their vocabulary in specialized contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛴 with similar characters like 蚯 (qiū), which refers to earthworms. Remember that 蛴 is specifically about grubs or larvae, while 蚯 is about a different type of creature. Always check the context in which you are using these terms.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛴

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Etymology of 蛴

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蛴

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half齐 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 蛴? 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 蛴?

Decomposition of 蛴

IDS Structure⿰虫齐
蛴Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
齐Qi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蛴?

How to say grubs, maggots in Chinese

“grubs, maggots” in Chinese is蛴qí

The character 蛴 (qí) refers to grubs, maggots, or larvae, typically in the context of the early developmental stage of insects. This term is often used in entomological studies or discussions about pest control. It may also appear in agricultural contexts when addressing issues related to crops and soil health.

When to use 蛴

When using 蛴, be mindful of the context, as it is more scientific or agricultural than conversational. Common collocations include terms related to agriculture or entomology, for example, 蛴虫 (qí chóng) meaning grub or larva. Avoid confusion with similar-sounding words that have different meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蛴 with similar characters like 蚯 (qiū), which refers to earthworms. Remember that 蛴 is specifically about grubs or larvae, while 蚯 is about a different type of creature. Always check the context in which you are using these terms.

Write 蛴

蛴

Practice writing 蛴 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 蛴

Words Containing This Character2
蛴qílarva蠐
蛴螬grub蠐螬
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蛴 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛴

No, 蛴 is primarily used in agricultural or entomological contexts rather than casual conversation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蛴?

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.