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鼴 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鼴yǎna kind of insectivorous rodentzg, 22 strokes, radical 鼠
yǎn(yan3) T3
  1. 1a kind of insectivorous rodent
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鼴yǎn(yan3)

The character 鼴 (yǎn) refers to a type of insectivorous rodent known as a mole. These creatures are typically burrowing animals known for their cylindrical bodies and velvety fur, often found in gardens and fields. In Chinese, this term is used primarily in biological or ecological contexts.

Strokes22Radical鼠
Cultural Note

Moles are often seen as pests in agriculture, as they can disrupt gardens and crops, which highlights the relationship between humans and wildlife in Chinese farming culture. This character may appear in literature or discussions about environmental conservation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small, burrowing creature (the mole) that has a soft, velvety coat. The character 鼴 looks like a small animal digging underground, with its rounded shape resembling its body. The '耳' (ear) radical suggests it might listen for insects underground, while the '虫' (insect) radical signifies its insectivorous diet.

Meanings of 鼴

yǎn(yan3)
1a kind of insectivorous rodent
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鼴

鼴Simplified
22Strokes
鼠Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鼴

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Podcast: 鼴

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AI Study Notes for 鼴

Usage Notes

Learners should be cautious with the pronunciation, ensuring the correct third tone is used. This word is generally used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions about wildlife. Common collocations include 鼴鼠 (yǎn shǔ), which specifically refers to the mole.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鼴 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to Level 3 words like 动物 (dòngwù, animal) and 生物 (shēngwù, organism). Students should focus on using it in discussions about animals and nature to enhance their vocabulary related to ecology.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鼴 with similar-sounding words like 眼 (yǎn, eye), leading to misunderstandings. Ensure you practice the correct pronunciation and context to avoid such errors.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鼴

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Etymology of 鼴

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

rat

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鼴

  1. 1The meaning half鼠 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half匽 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayrat
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鼴? 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 鼴?

Decomposition of 鼴

IDS Structure⿰鼠匽
鼴Full Character
=
鼠shu3
left
匽yan3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鼴?

How to say a kind of insectivorous rodent in Chinese

“a kind of insectivorous rodent” in Chinese is鼴yǎn

The character 鼴 (yǎn) refers to a type of insectivorous rodent known as a mole. These creatures are typically burrowing animals known for their cylindrical bodies and velvety fur, often found in gardens and fields. In Chinese, this term is used primarily in biological or ecological contexts.

When to use 鼴

Learners should be cautious with the pronunciation, ensuring the correct third tone is used. This word is generally used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions about wildlife. Common collocations include 鼴鼠 (yǎn shǔ), which specifically refers to the mole.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鼴 with similar-sounding words like 眼 (yǎn, eye), leading to misunderstandings. Ensure you practice the correct pronunciation and context to avoid such errors.

Write 鼴

鼴

Practice writing 鼴 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 鼴

Words Containing This Character2
鼹鼠mole (zoology)鼴鼠
鼹yǎnmole鼴
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鼹鼠 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鼴

It means 'mole,' which is a small burrowing rodent.

Jason Recommends

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