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March 24, 2026
蜒yán(yan2)
The character 蜒 (yán) refers to a millipede or slug, both of which are elongated, soft-bodied creatures that typically have numerous legs. This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized contexts, such as biology or ecology, when discussing various invertebrate species.
Strokes12Radical虫
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, creatures like millipedes and slugs may not hold significant symbolic meaning, but they are often discussed in the context of traditional medicine or ecological balance in nature.
Memory Tip
Think of a long, wiggly creature: the millipede. The character 蜒 visually resembles a wavy line, representing the many legs of a millipede as it moves along the ground. The radical '虫' (insect) at the bottom hints at its classification among creepy crawlies.
Meanings of 蜒
yán(yan2)
1millipede
2slug
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 蜒
蜒Simplified
12Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 蜒
Podcast: 蜒
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AI Study Notes for 蜒
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 蜒 with similar characters that refer to other insects or creatures, as context is vital. This character is more likely to appear in scientific texts rather than in everyday speech, so it's considered somewhat formal or technical.
HSK Study Tips
While 蜒 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of animal-related terms. Focus on the radicals and components of the character, as they provide clues about its meaning and related words in the same category.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 蜒 with other similar characters, especially those related to different insects. For example, incorrectly using 蜒 to refer to a centipede, which is actually expressed as 百足虫 (bǎi zú chong).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 蜒
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Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 延 represents the sound.
1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
2The sound half延 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 蜒? 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 蜒?
Decomposition of 蜒
IDS Structure⿰虫延
蜒Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
延Yan2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 蜒?
How to say millipede in Chinese
“millipede” in Chinese is蜒yán
The character 蜒 (yán) refers to a millipede or slug, both of which are elongated, soft-bodied creatures that typically have numerous legs. This term is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in specialized contexts, such as biology or ecology, when discussing various invertebrate species.
When to use 蜒
Be cautious not to confuse 蜒 with similar characters that refer to other insects or creatures, as context is vital. This character is more likely to appear in scientific texts rather than in everyday speech, so it's considered somewhat formal or technical.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 蜒 with other similar characters, especially those related to different insects. For example, incorrectly using 蜒 to refer to a centipede, which is actually expressed as 百足虫 (bǎi zú chong).
Write 蜒
蜒
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Practice writing 蜒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 蜒
蜒 carries 2 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
摩泽尔河在宁静的乡间蜿____穿行约160英里。
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
Example Sentences for 蜒 (10)
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1
摩泽尔河在宁静的乡间蜿蜒穿行约160英里。
mó zé ěr hé zài níng jìng de xiāng jiān wān yán chuān háng yuē160 160 yīng。
The Moselle winds through some 160 miles of tranquil countryside.
