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蜈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蜈wúcentipeden, 13 strokes, radical 虫
wú(wu2) T2
  1. 1centipede
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蜈wú(wu2)

The character 蜈 (wú) refers to a 'centipede,' which is a long, segmented arthropod known for its numerous legs. In Chinese culture, centipedes can be associated with both traditional medicine and certain superstitions. The term is often used in discussions of nature, biology, or in idiomatic expressions related to pests.

Strokes13Radical虫
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, centipedes (especially certain species) are believed to have medicinal properties and are sometimes used in herbal remedies. This reflects the historical significance of insects in Chinese pharmacology.

Memory Tip

Imagine a centipede (蜈) crawling swiftly over a winding path. The character has the radical for 'insect' (虫) at the bottom, emphasizing its identity as an arthropod. Picture it whispering 'wú' as it scuttles away, making it easier to remember the pronunciation.

Meanings of 蜈

wú(wu2)
1centipede
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蜈

蜈Simplified
13Strokes
虫Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蜈

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Podcast: 蜈

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AI Study Notes for 蜈

Usage Notes

The term 蜈 is primarily used in a scientific or biological context, and it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it could change the meaning entirely. It often appears in compound words related to insects and pest control.

HSK Study Tips

While 蜈 is not featured in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to other animal-related words at the beginner level. Focus on the radicals and components of the character to help memorize it, as well as its pronunciation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蜈 with similar insect-related characters like 蚂 or 蚊. For example, saying 蜈 instead of 蚂 (ant) is incorrect. Always double-check the context to ensure the right insect is being referred to.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蜈

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Etymology of 蜈

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

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 吴 represents the sound.

Memory Hint

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蜈

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 吴 represents the sound.

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half吴 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 蜈? 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 蜈?

Decomposition of 蜈

IDS Structure⿰虫吴
蜈Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
吴Wu2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蜈?

How to say centipede in Chinese

“centipede” in Chinese is蜈wú

The character 蜈 (wú) refers to a 'centipede,' which is a long, segmented arthropod known for its numerous legs. In Chinese culture, centipedes can be associated with both traditional medicine and certain superstitions. The term is often used in discussions of nature, biology, or in idiomatic expressions related to pests.

When to use 蜈

The term 蜈 is primarily used in a scientific or biological context, and it is not commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious with the tone, as mispronouncing it could change the meaning entirely. It often appears in compound words related to insects and pest control.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蜈 with similar insect-related characters like 蚂 or 蚊. For example, saying 蜈 instead of 蚂 (ant) is incorrect. Always double-check the context to ensure the right insect is being referred to.

Write 蜈

蜈

Practice writing 蜈 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 蜈

Words Containing This Character2
蜈蚣centipede
蜈wúcentipede
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蜈蚣 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蜈

The pronunciation is 'wú,' with a rising tone, similar to how you might say 'woo' in English but with a higher pitch.

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