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蝥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蝥máoSpanish fly; grain-eating grubx, 15 strokes, radical 虫
máo(mao2) T2
  1. 1Spanish fly; grain-eating grub
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蝥máo(mao2)

The character 蝥 (máo) refers to a type of insect, specifically known as the 'Spanish fly,' which is associated with a toxic compound. It can also denote grain-eating grubs, highlighting its relevance in agriculture and pest control contexts. This term is less common in everyday conversation and is more likely to appear in specialized texts related to entomology or agriculture.

Strokes15Radical虫
Cultural Note

The Spanish fly has historical significance in Chinese medicine and is linked to traditional practices, where it was sometimes used for its purported medicinal properties. This reflects the broader cultural connection between insects and herbal remedies in Chinese tradition.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small, vibrant green fly (the Spanish fly) that makes you say 'Wow!' with its dangerous properties. The character 蝥 features the insect radical 虫, reminding you that it's an insect, while the sound máo can be linked to 'Mao' (like a name) buzzing around in your head.

Meanings of 蝥

máo(mao2)
1Spanish fly; grain-eating grub
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蝥

蝥Simplified
15Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蝥

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Podcast: 蝥

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AI Study Notes for 蝥

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 蝥 (máo) with similar-sounding words or characters, especially since it is not frequently used in spoken Mandarin. It is used in a more formal or technical context, often collocating with terms related to pests or agriculture. Ensure the pronunciation is correct, as tone variations can change meanings.

HSK Study Tips

While 蝥 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your grasp of specialized terminology in Chinese. Focus on the insect radical and its usage in agricultural contexts to connect it with other related vocabulary about pests.

Common Mistakes

Learners might confuse 蝥 (máo) with 蟊 (máo2), which has a different meaning. Remember that 蝥 specifically denotes a type of insect, while 蟊 refers to another kind of pest.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蝥

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Etymology of 蝥

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蝥

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half敄 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 蝥? 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 蝥?

Decomposition of 蝥

IDS Structure⿱敄虫
蝥Full Character
=
敄wu4
top
虫chong2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蝥?

How to say Spanish fly; grain-eating grub in Chinese

“Spanish fly; grain-eating grub” in Chinese is蝥máo

The character 蝥 (máo) refers to a type of insect, specifically known as the 'Spanish fly,' which is associated with a toxic compound. It can also denote grain-eating grubs, highlighting its relevance in agriculture and pest control contexts. This term is less common in everyday conversation and is more likely to appear in specialized texts related to entomology or agriculture.

When to use 蝥

Be cautious not to confuse 蝥 (máo) with similar-sounding words or characters, especially since it is not frequently used in spoken Mandarin. It is used in a more formal or technical context, often collocating with terms related to pests or agriculture. Ensure the pronunciation is correct, as tone variations can change meanings.

What learners get wrong

Learners might confuse 蝥 (máo) with 蟊 (máo2), which has a different meaning. Remember that 蝥 specifically denotes a type of insect, while 蟊 refers to another kind of pest.

Write 蝥

蝥

Practice writing 蝥 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 蝥

Words Containing This Character1
蝥máoSpanish fly
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蝥 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蝥

蝥 translates to 'Spanish fly' or refers to grain-eating grubs.

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