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March 24, 2026
蛤gé(ge2)
The character 蛤 (gé) primarily refers to clams, which are bivalve mollusks often found in marine environments. It can also denote frogs and toads, highlighting a broader category of amphibians. This character is commonly used in both culinary contexts, such as when discussing seafood, and in ecological discussions about amphibians.
Strokes12Radical虫Frequency#14979DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, clams (蛤) are often featured in dishes like clam soup and are considered a delicacy in coastal regions, reflecting the importance of seafood in Chinese culinary traditions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a clam with a gaping mouth saying 'gè' as it eagerly awaits food. The character 蛤 looks like a shell (the top part) protecting the soft body inside (the bottom part), which can help you remember that it refers to clams.
Meanings of 蛤
gé(ge2)
primary
1clam
2frog
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
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About 蛤
蛤Simplified
12Strokes
虫Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蛤
Podcast: 蛤
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AI Study Notes for 蛤
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a clam with a gaping mouth saying 'gè' as it eagerly awaits food. The character 蛤 looks like a shell (the top part) protecting the soft body inside (the bottom part), which can help you remember that it refers to clams.
Usage Notes
When using 蛤, it's important to note that it is more informal and typically used in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Common collocations include 蛤蜊 (gé lí), meaning 'clam', and be cautious with tone, as mispronunciation could lead to confusion with other characters.
HSK Study Tips
While 蛤 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, its components can help learners recognize characters related to animals and food. Students should focus on the radicals 蛙 (wā) for frog and 蛤 (gé) for clam to build a connection between related terms.
Cultural Note
In Chinese cuisine, clams (蛤) are often featured in dishes like clam soup and are considered a delicacy in coastal regions, reflecting the importance of seafood in Chinese culinary traditions.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 蛤 with 蛙 (wā) due to their similar appearance and sound. For example, saying '我喜欢蛙' (I like frogs) when you meant '蛤' (clams) can lead to misunderstanding.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蛤
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Grammar Patterns of 蛤
蛤 carries 3 distinct meanings. 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
在台风天的拾 ____蜊 也是份危险的工作.
Go clamming is also a dangerous work with a willy - willy ( typhoon ).
Example Sentences for 蛤 (3)
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1
在台风天的拾 蛤蜊 也是份危险的工作.
zài tái fēng tiān de shí gé lì yě shì fèn wēi xiǎn de.
Go clamming is also a dangerous work with a willy - willy ( typhoon ).
2
他们常去浅滩拾蛤蜊.
tā mén cháng qù qiǎn tān shí gé lì.
They often go clamming.
3
目的探讨蛤蚧防喘丸对支气管哮喘的治疗作用.
mù de tàn tǎo gé jiè fáng chuǎn wán duì zhī qì guǎn xiào chuǎn de zhì liáo zuò yòng.
Objective : To approach the therapeutic action of Gejie Fangchuan pills in treating Asthma.
Cultural Notes for 蛤
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese cuisine, clams (蛤) are often featured in dishes like clam soup and are considered a delicacy in coastal regions, reflecting the importance of seafood in Chinese culinary traditions.
Word Family of 蛤
Words Containing This Character8
蛤géfrog
蛤蟆frog
蛤蜊clam
癞蛤蟆toad癩蛤蟆
文蛤clam
蛤蚧tokay gecko (Gekko gecko), used in TCM
癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉lit. the toad wants to eat swan meat (idiom)癩蛤蟆想吃天鵝肉
蛤蚌clam
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 蛤 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 蛤
蛤 refers to clams and similar shellfish, while 蛙 specifically refers to frogs.
It is usually more suited for informal contexts or culinary discussions rather than formal texts.
