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蠊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
蠊liáncockroachx, 19 strokes, radical 虫
lián(lian2) T2
  1. 1cockroach
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

蠊lián(lian2)

The character 蠊 (lián) specifically refers to a cockroach, which is a common household pest. It is often used in contexts discussing hygiene, pest control, or urban living, reflecting its association with uncleanliness in many cultures.

Strokes19Radical虫
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the presence of cockroaches is often linked to poor hygiene and is considered a bad omen for cleanliness in homes. This can be reflected in various proverbs and sayings that emphasize the importance of cleanliness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a cockroach scurrying away as you try to catch it, representing the character 蠊 (lián). The left component '虫' (insect) and the right component '连' can remind you of the sneaky nature of cockroaches that seem to 'connect' with places you want them to avoid.

Meanings of 蠊

lián(lian2)
1cockroach
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 蠊

蠊Simplified
19Strokes
虫Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 蠊

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Podcast: 蠊

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 蠊

Usage Notes

When using 蠊 (lián), be cautious as it is more formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversation. Instead, the more colloquial term for cockroach is often used. Additionally, be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone may confuse it with other words.

HSK Study Tips

Since 蠊 (lián) is not included in the HSK vocabulary, students should focus on its radicals and meanings in context. Connecting this character with words in HSK Level 1 that involve insects (like 虫) can provide a solid foundation for understanding other related terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 蠊 (lián) with its more common synonym 蟑螂 (zhāngláng), which is used more frequently in daily conversation. Remember that 蠊 is more formal and less commonly used.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 蠊

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Etymology of 蠊

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

insect

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 蠊

  1. 1The meaning half虫 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half廉 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 蠊? 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 蠊?

Decomposition of 蠊

IDS Structure⿰虫廉
蠊Full Character
=
虫chong2
left
廉lian2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 蠊?

How to say cockroach in Chinese

“cockroach” in Chinese is蠊lián

The character 蠊 (lián) specifically refers to a cockroach, which is a common household pest. It is often used in contexts discussing hygiene, pest control, or urban living, reflecting its association with uncleanliness in many cultures.

When to use 蠊

When using 蠊 (lián), be cautious as it is more formal and may not be commonly used in casual conversation. Instead, the more colloquial term for cockroach is often used. Additionally, be careful with the tone; using the wrong tone may confuse it with other words.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 蠊 (lián) with its more common synonym 蟑螂 (zhāngláng), which is used more frequently in daily conversation. Remember that 蠊 is more formal and less commonly used.

Write 蠊

蠊

Practice writing 蠊 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 蠊

Words Containing This Character2
蠊liáncockroach
蜚蠊cockroach
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 蠊 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 蠊

No, 蠊 is more formal and not frequently used in casual speech; people often just refer to cockroaches as '蟑螂' (zhāngláng).

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 蠊?

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