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蝼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝼lóumole cricket; Gryllotalpa africanan, 15 strokes, radical 虫
lóu(lou2) T2
  1. 1mole cricket; Gryllotalpa africana
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蝼(螻)lóu(lou2)

The character 蝼 (lóu) refers to a type of insect known as the mole cricket, which is scientifically classified as Gryllotalpa africana. These insects are known for their distinctive burrowing habits and are often found in moist soil, making them common in agricultural contexts where they can be both beneficial and harmful.

Strokes15Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, insects like the mole cricket may be viewed through the lens of agriculture and pest control. They can symbolize both problems and solutions in farming practices, highlighting the balance between nature and agricultural productivity.

Memory Tip

Imagine a little mole (mole cricket) with long antennae peeking out of a burrow. The character 蝼 has the radical 虫 (insect) and resembles a bug peeking out, which helps you remember its meaning and pronunciation. The 'lóu' sounds like 'low,' as in low to the ground, where mole crickets live.

Meanings of 蝼

lóu(lou2)
1mole cricket; Gryllotalpa africana
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蝼

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

Podcast: 蝼

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Podcast: 蝼

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AI Study Notes for 蝼

Usage Notes

When using 蝼, it is crucial to understand that it specifically refers to the mole cricket and not other types of crickets. This term is more commonly used in agricultural discussions and may not be widely recognized in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding terms like 螻蛄 (lóu gū), which is another type of cricket.

HSK Study Tips

This character is not included in the HSK levels, but it connects to other insect-related vocabulary. Students should focus on the radical 虫 and recognize how it categorizes words related to insects. Expanding vocabulary around insects can enhance understanding of ecological contexts in Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蝼 with similar-sounding words or characters. For example, mixing it up with 螻蛄 (lóu gū) can lead to misunderstandings, as they refer to different types of insects. Always confirm the context before using either term.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝼

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Etymology of 蝼

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蝼

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half娄 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 蝼? 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 蝼?

Decomposition of 蝼

IDS Structure⿰虫娄
蝼Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
娄Lou2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蝼?

How to say mole cricket; Gryllotalpa africana in Chinese

“mole cricket; Gryllotalpa africana” in Chinese is蝼lóu

The character 蝼 (lóu) refers to a type of insect known as the mole cricket, which is scientifically classified as Gryllotalpa africana. These insects are known for their distinctive burrowing habits and are often found in moist soil, making them common in agricultural contexts where they can be both beneficial and harmful.

When to use 蝼

When using 蝼, it is crucial to understand that it specifically refers to the mole cricket and not other types of crickets. This term is more commonly used in agricultural discussions and may not be widely recognized in everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding terms like 螻蛄 (lóu gū), which is another type of cricket.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蝼 with similar-sounding words or characters. For example, mixing it up with 螻蛄 (lóu gū) can lead to misunderstandings, as they refer to different types of insects. Always confirm the context before using either term.

Write 蝼

蝼

Practice writing 蝼 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 蝼

Words Containing This Character3
蝼蚁lit. mole cricket and ants螻蟻
蝼蛄mole cricket螻蛄
蝼lóumole cricket螻
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 蝼蚁 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝼

蝼 specifically refers to the mole cricket, which is known for its burrowing habits.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蝼?

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.