Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
蛩 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蛩qióngcricket, locust; anxiousg, 12 strokes, radical 虫
蛩qiónggrasshopperunknown, 12 strokes, radical 虫
蛩qiónga cricketunknown, 12 strokes, radical 虫
qióng(qiong2) T2
  1. 1cricket, locust; anxious
  2. 2grasshopper
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蛩qióng(qiong2)

The character 蛩 (qióng) primarily refers to a type of insect known as a cricket. It can also convey feelings of anxiety in certain contexts. This dual meaning makes it an interesting character, as it connects a specific creature with a broader emotional state.

Strokes12Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, crickets are often associated with good luck and are sometimes kept as pets for their song and companionship. They also appear in poetry and traditional arts, symbolizing joy and sometimes anxiety.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small green cricket sitting on a leaf, nervously hopping around, which represents both the insect (蛩) and the feeling of anxiety (qióng sounds like 'anxious'). Picture it as a 'panicked cricket' to link the sound and meaning together.

Meanings of 蛩

qióng(qiong2)
1cricket, locust; anxious
2grasshopper
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蛩

蛩Simplified
12Strokes
虫Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蛩

JasonAmy

Podcast: 蛩

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蛩

Usage Notes

蛩 is seldom used in everyday conversation and is more common in literary contexts or specific regional dialects. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding words like 蟋蟀 (xī shuài), which specifically means cricket as well. The tone is critical; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

Though 蛩 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it presents an opportunity to explore related words like 蟋蟀 (cricket) and insects in general. Students at higher levels should focus on expanding their vocabulary around fauna and emotions, as both are relevant in cultural expressions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蛩 with similar insect characters like 蟋蟀 (xī shuài). It's also common to misuse the tone, pronouncing it as 'qǒng' instead of the correct 'qióng'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蛩

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 蛩 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 蛩

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蛩

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half巩 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 蛩? 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 蛩?

Decomposition of 蛩

IDS Structure⿱巩虫
蛩Full Character
=
巩gong3
top
虫chong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蛩?

How to say cricket, locust; anxious in Chinese

“cricket, locust; anxious” in Chinese is蛩qióng

The character 蛩 (qióng) primarily refers to a type of insect known as a cricket. It can also convey feelings of anxiety in certain contexts. This dual meaning makes it an interesting character, as it connects a specific creature with a broader emotional state.

When to use 蛩

蛩 is seldom used in everyday conversation and is more common in literary contexts or specific regional dialects. Learners should be careful not to confuse it with other similar-sounding words like 蟋蟀 (xī shuài), which specifically means cricket as well. The tone is critical; mispronouncing it could lead to misunderstandings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蛩 with similar insect characters like 蟋蟀 (xī shuài). It's also common to misuse the tone, pronouncing it as 'qǒng' instead of the correct 'qióng'.

Write 蛩

蛩

Practice writing 蛩 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 蛩

Words Containing This Character1
蛩qiónganxious
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蛩 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蛩

It primarily means 'cricket' but can also imply feelings of anxiety.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蛩?

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.