Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蝤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝤qiúgrub, larvan, 15 strokes, radical 虫
qiú(qiu2) T2
  1. 1grub, larva
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蝤qiú(qiu2)

The character 蝤 (qiú) refers to a type of grub or larva, often associated with the early stages of insects. It is commonly used in biological contexts to describe the immature forms of certain creatures before they develop into adults. This term is not frequently used in everyday conversation but may appear in scientific texts or discussions about entomology.

Strokes15Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, insects and their life cycles are often depicted in literature and art, symbolizing transformation and change, as seen in poetry and traditional stories. The study of insects, including their larvae, has practical implications in agriculture and pest control.

Memory Tip

Think of 蝤 (qiú) as a 'cute grub' hiding in a leaf. The character has the radical 蝶 (butterfly), which hints at its connection to insects, and the 'qiú' sound can remind you of the sound a grub might make as it wriggles around.

Meanings of 蝤

qiú(qiu2)
1grub, larva
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蝤

蝤Simplified
15Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蝤

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蝤

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蝤

Usage Notes

Be aware that 蝤 is a more specialized term and may not be understood in casual conversation. It’s often used in formal or scientific contexts, so ensure you’re in the right setting when using it. Additionally, some learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

While 蝤 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other words related to insects and biology that may appear in advanced studies. Students should focus on understanding the context in which this term appears, particularly in entomological discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蝤 with other insect-related words, such as 虫 (chóng), which means 'insect' in general. Make sure to use 蝤 specifically when referring to grubs or larvae.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝤

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 蝤 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 蝤

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蝤

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half酋 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 蝤? 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 蝤?

Decomposition of 蝤

IDS Structure⿰虫酋
蝤Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
酋qiu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蝤?

How to say grub, larva in Chinese

“grub, larva” in Chinese is蝤qiú

The character 蝤 (qiú) refers to a type of grub or larva, often associated with the early stages of insects. It is commonly used in biological contexts to describe the immature forms of certain creatures before they develop into adults. This term is not frequently used in everyday conversation but may appear in scientific texts or discussions about entomology.

When to use 蝤

Be aware that 蝤 is a more specialized term and may not be understood in casual conversation. It’s often used in formal or scientific contexts, so ensure you’re in the right setting when using it. Additionally, some learners might confuse it with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蝤 with other insect-related words, such as 虫 (chóng), which means 'insect' in general. Make sure to use 蝤 specifically when referring to grubs or larvae.

Write 蝤

蝤

Practice writing 蝤 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 蝤

Words Containing This Character1
蝤qiúlarva
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蝤 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝤

蝤 translates to 'grub' or 'larva', referring to the immature stage of certain insects.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蝤?

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.