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蛜 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛜yīwoodlousezg, 12 strokes, radical 虫
yī(yi1) T1
  1. 1woodlouse
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蛜yī(yi1)

The character 蛜 (yī) refers specifically to a type of small crustacean known as a woodlouse. These creatures are often found in damp environments and are known for their segmented bodies. While not commonly used in daily conversation, it may appear in biological contexts or studies related to ecology.

Strokes12Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, knowledge about various insects and small creatures like the woodlouse can be tied to traditional beliefs about the environment and agriculture. Understanding these creatures contributes to an appreciation of nature and biodiversity within Chinese ecological studies.

Memory Tip

Think of 蛜 (yī) as a tiny 'wiggly creature' that loves the woods. The '虫' radical (meaning insect) at the bottom suggests its insect-like nature, while the '木' radical at the top hints at its habitat among wood and damp areas.

Meanings of 蛜

yī(yi1)
1woodlouse
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蛜

蛜Simplified
12Strokes
虫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛜

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蛜

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蛜

Usage Notes

Since 蛜 is a less common term, it may be used primarily in scientific or academic discussions rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious of using it in casual contexts, as it may confuse listeners unfamiliar with specific terminology. Additionally, ensure you pronounce it correctly to avoid misunderstandings, as the tone is crucial.

HSK Study Tips

This character does not appear in the HSK vocabulary list, which means it may not be essential for learners at the beginner or intermediate levels. However, understanding it can enhance a learner's vocabulary in specialized fields such as biology. Focus on how it relates to other insect-related terms you may encounter.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 蛜 with other insect-related characters due to similar sounds or components, such as 蟑 (zhāng) for cockroach. It's essential to distinguish between these terms by practicing their meanings and contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛜

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Etymology of 蛜

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蛜

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half伊 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 蛜? 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 蛜?

Decomposition of 蛜

IDS Structure⿰虫伊
蛜Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
伊Yi1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蛜?

How to say woodlouse in Chinese

“woodlouse” in Chinese is蛜yī

The character 蛜 (yī) refers specifically to a type of small crustacean known as a woodlouse. These creatures are often found in damp environments and are known for their segmented bodies. While not commonly used in daily conversation, it may appear in biological contexts or studies related to ecology.

When to use 蛜

Since 蛜 is a less common term, it may be used primarily in scientific or academic discussions rather than in everyday conversation. Be cautious of using it in casual contexts, as it may confuse listeners unfamiliar with specific terminology. Additionally, ensure you pronounce it correctly to avoid misunderstandings, as the tone is crucial.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 蛜 with other insect-related characters due to similar sounds or components, such as 蟑 (zhāng) for cockroach. It's essential to distinguish between these terms by practicing their meanings and contexts.

Write 蛜

蛜

Practice writing 蛜 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 蛜

Words Containing This Character1
蛜yīwoodlouse
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蛜 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛜

A woodlouse is a small crustacean that is often found in damp environments, resembling a tiny pill bug.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蛜?

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.