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螓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
螓qína small cicada with a square headx, 16 strokes, radical 虫
螓qínsmall cicada with a square headunknown, 16 strokes, radical 虫
qín(qin2) T2
  1. 1a small cicada with a square head
  2. 2small cicada with a square head
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

螓qín(qin2)

The character 螓 (qín) refers to a small cicada known for its distinct square head. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but can appear in literary contexts or specialized discussions about entomology or nature. It conveys a sense of delicacy and specificity in describing this particular type of insect.

Strokes16Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese poetry, cicadas are often symbols of summer and rebirth, representing the fleeting nature of life. The small cicada 螓 specifically can evoke imagery of quietness and the simplicity of nature.

Memory Tip

Imagine a tiny cicada with a 'square' head that likes to sing in the trees. The character 螓 has the radical 虫 (insect) which helps you remember it relates to bugs, while the shape of the character itself can evoke the idea of a little creature perched in the branches.

Meanings of 螓

qín(qin2)
1a small cicada with a square head
2small cicada with a square head
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 螓

螓Simplified
16Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 螓

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Podcast: 螓

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AI Study Notes for 螓

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in daily conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Be cautious with the pronunciation; many learners confuse it with similar-sounding words. Common collocations might include phrases related to nature or entomology.

HSK Study Tips

Although 螓 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your appreciation of descriptive language in Chinese literature. Focus on the radicals and their meanings, as this will help you decipher unfamiliar characters in the future.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 螓 with other cicada-related characters due to similar pronunciations. For example, some might mistakenly say 'qǐn' instead of 'qín'; remember to use the second tone.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 螓

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Etymology of 螓

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 螓

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half秦 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 螓? 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 螓?

Decomposition of 螓

IDS Structure⿰虫秦
螓Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
秦Qin2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 螓?

How to say a small cicada with a square head in Chinese

“a small cicada with a square head” in Chinese is螓qín

The character 螓 (qín) refers to a small cicada known for its distinct square head. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but can appear in literary contexts or specialized discussions about entomology or nature. It conveys a sense of delicacy and specificity in describing this particular type of insect.

When to use 螓

This character is rarely used in daily conversation, making it more suitable for formal or literary contexts. Be cautious with the pronunciation; many learners confuse it with similar-sounding words. Common collocations might include phrases related to nature or entomology.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 螓 with other cicada-related characters due to similar pronunciations. For example, some might mistakenly say 'qǐn' instead of 'qín'; remember to use the second tone.

Write 螓

螓

Practice writing 螓 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 螓

Words Containing This Character1
螓qínsmall cicada with a square head
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 螓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 螓

No, 螓 is not commonly used in everyday speech and is more likely to be found in literary or scientific contexts.

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