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March 24, 2026
蚤zǎo(zao3)
The character 蚤 (zǎo) refers to a small, wingless insect commonly known as a flea. Fleas are often found on animals and can bite humans, causing irritation. This word is used in contexts related to pests or discussions about animal care.
Strokes9Radical虫Frequency#51102DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Fleas are often associated with cleanliness in Chinese culture, where having pets that are free from fleas is considered a sign of good animal care. The concept of pest control is significant in maintaining hygiene in homes.
Memory Tip
Imagine a tiny flea jumping around, and think of the sound 'zǎo' as a buzzing noise it makes. The character 蚤 combines the radical for 'insect' (虫) with the phonetic component, which can help you visualize the small, annoying insect that hops around.
Meanings of 蚤
zǎo(zao3)
1flea; louse
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蚤
蚤Simplified
9Strokes
虫Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蚤
Podcast: 蚤
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AI Study Notes for 蚤
Usage Notes
Be careful to use this term in the correct context, as it is typically informal and related to pests. Common collocations include '蚤叮咬' (flea bite) and '狗蚤' (dog flea). Avoid mixing it up with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings.
HSK Study Tips
Though 蚤 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it aligns with HSK Level 4-5 themes involving animals and nature. Focus on expanding your vocabulary around animals and their characteristics, as this will help with contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蚤 (flea) with other insect-related characters, like 虫 (insect) or 蟑 (roach). For example, saying '我有虫' (wǒ yǒu chóng - I have insects) instead of specifying '蚤' can lead to misunderstandings.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蚤
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2The sound half叉 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawayinsect
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 蚤? 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 蚤?
Decomposition of 蚤
IDS Structure⿱叉虫
蚤Full Character
=
叉cha1
top
虫chong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蚤?
How to say flea; louse in Chinese
“flea; louse” in Chinese is蚤zǎo
The character 蚤 (zǎo) refers to a small, wingless insect commonly known as a flea. Fleas are often found on animals and can bite humans, causing irritation. This word is used in contexts related to pests or discussions about animal care.
When to use 蚤
Be careful to use this term in the correct context, as it is typically informal and related to pests. Common collocations include '蚤叮咬' (flea bite) and '狗蚤' (dog flea). Avoid mixing it up with similar-sounding characters that have different meanings.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 蚤 (flea) with other insect-related characters, like 虫 (insect) or 蟑 (roach). For example, saying '我有虫' (wǒ yǒu chóng - I have insects) instead of specifying '蚤' can lead to misunderstandings.
Write 蚤
蚤
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Practice writing 蚤 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蚤
蚤 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
他在拍卖行、古玩店和跳____市场中寻宝。
He finds material at auctions, antique shops and flea markets.
