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蟓 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蟓xiàngsilkwormx, 17 strokes, radical 虫
xiàng(xiang4) T4
  1. 1silkworm
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蟓xiàng(xiang4)

The character 蟓 (xiàng) specifically refers to a silkworm, which is a key insect in the production of silk. This term is often used in contexts related to silk production and the textile industry in China, where silk has historical significance and economic importance.

Strokes17Radical虫
Cultural Note

Silkworms have been integral to Chinese culture for thousands of years, symbolizing wealth and luxury due to the silk they produce. The ancient practice of sericulture is still relevant today, particularly in regions known for silk production.

Memory Tip

Imagine a silkworm (xiàng) that is so large it can be mistaken for a dragon! The character 蟓 has the radical for insect (虫) on the left, reminding you it's an insect, and the right side is a complex form, suggesting something significant in its role in producing luxurious silk.

Meanings of 蟓

xiàng(xiang4)
1silkworm
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蟓

蟓Simplified
17Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蟓

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Podcast: 蟓

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AI Study Notes for 蟓

Usage Notes

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or specialized contexts like biology or textile production. Learners may confuse it with other insect-related characters, so it's important to note its specific connection to silkworms.

HSK Study Tips

Although 蟓 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of agricultural and textile terms in Chinese. Focus on related words like丝 (sī, silk) and other characters with the insect radical (虫) to deepen your vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蟓 with other insect characters like 虫 (chóng), which means 'insect' in general. Remember that 蟓 specifically refers to the silkworm, which is crucial in the silk industry.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蟓

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Etymology of 蟓

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蟓

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half象 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 蟓? 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 蟓?

Decomposition of 蟓

IDS Structure⿰虫象
蟓Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
象xiang4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蟓?

How to say silkworm in Chinese

“silkworm” in Chinese is蟓xiàng

The character 蟓 (xiàng) specifically refers to a silkworm, which is a key insect in the production of silk. This term is often used in contexts related to silk production and the textile industry in China, where silk has historical significance and economic importance.

When to use 蟓

This character is not commonly used in everyday conversation, making it more suitable for formal or specialized contexts like biology or textile production. Learners may confuse it with other insect-related characters, so it's important to note its specific connection to silkworms.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蟓 with other insect characters like 虫 (chóng), which means 'insect' in general. Remember that 蟓 specifically refers to the silkworm, which is crucial in the silk industry.

Write 蟓

蟓

Practice writing 蟓 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 蟓

Words Containing This Character1
蟓xiàngsilkworm
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 蟓 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蟓

It is pronounced as 'xiàng'.

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