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March 24, 2026
昆虫(昆蟲)kūnchóng(kun1chong2)
昆虫 refers to insects, which are a vast class of small, often winged creatures characterized by a three-part body structure (head, thorax, abdomen) and exoskeleton. This term is commonly used in biological and ecological contexts, as well as in everyday discussions about nature and pests.
Frequency#8037DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
昆虫 have significant roles in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional medicine and agriculture. For example, certain insects are believed to possess healing properties, and insect collections can be a popular hobby among nature enthusiasts.
Memory Tip
Imagine a king (昆) sitting on a throne made of insects (虫). The character 昆 looks like a king, while 虫 can remind you of crawling creatures. Together they form the word for 'insect' in Chinese, pronounced 'kun chong'.
Meanings of 昆虫
kūnchóng(kun1chong2)
1insect
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About 昆虫
昆虫Simplified
昆蟲Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#8037Frequency Rank
只Measure Word
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 昆虫
Podcast: 昆虫
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AI Study Notes for 昆虫
Quick Contrast
蚂蚁 (mǎyǐ, ant) — 昆虫 is a broader category that includes many types of insects, while 蚂蚁 specifically refers to a single type of insect.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a king (昆) sitting on a throne made of insects (虫). The character 昆 looks like a king, while 虫 can remind you of crawling creatures. Together they form the word for 'insect' in Chinese, pronounced 'kun chong'.
Usage Notes
Be careful with the tone when pronouncing 昆虫; it’s kun1 chong2. A common mistake is to confuse the measure word with others; 隻 (zhī) is often misused instead of the correct measure word for insects. In scientific contexts, this word is often paired with terms like '生态' (ecology) or '研究' (research).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK 5 word, 昆虫 connects well with other biological terms you might encounter at this level. Focus on understanding its usage in context and related vocabulary, such as '生态系统' (ecosystem) and '生物' (organism).
Cultural Note
昆虫 have significant roles in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional medicine and agriculture. For example, certain insects are believed to possess healing properties, and insect collections can be a popular hobby among nature enthusiasts.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 昆虫 with 虫 (chóng), which is a more general term for bugs. For example, saying '我有很多虫在家里' (I have many insects at home) instead of '我有很多昆虫在家里' can lead to ambiguity about the specific type of bugs.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 昆虫
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Grammar Patterns of 昆虫
昆虫 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 5
Complete the Sentence
我继续研究飞蛾，并将研究范围扩展到其他____。
I continued studying moths, and branched out to other insects.
Example Sentences for 昆虫 (9)
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1
我继续研究飞蛾，并将研究范围扩展到其他昆虫。
wǒ jì xù yán jiū fēi é， ， bìng jiāng yán jiū fàn wéi kuò zhǎn dào qí tā kūn。
I continued studying moths, and branched out to other insects.
2
蜜蜂之间所用的交流方式是昆虫中最为复杂的方式之一。
mì fēng zhī jiān suǒ yòng de jiāo liú fāng shì shì kūn chóng zhōng zuì wéi fù zá de fāng shì zhī yī。
Honeybees use one of the most sophisticated communication systems of any insect.
3
昆虫很讨厌皮肤内维生素的气味。
kūn chóng hěn tǎo yàn pí fū nèi wéi shēng sù de qì wèi。
The odour of vitamin in skin is repugnant to insects.
Insects are made up of tens of thousands of proteins.
5
鸟在半空中捕捉了昆虫。
niǎo zài bàn kōng zhōng bǔ zhuō le kūn chóng。
The bird caught the insects in mid-air.
6
那鸟在飞行中捉住了一只昆虫.
nà niǎo zài fēi háng zhōng zhuō zhù le yī zhī kūn chóng.
The bird caught a bug on the fly.
7
收集小昆虫时可以把它们装进广口瓶里。
shōu jí xiǎo kūn chóng shí kě yǐ bǎ tā mén zhuāng jìn guǎng kǒu píng lǐ。
Small insects can be collected by shaking them into a jar.
8
不时有只昆虫嗡嗡嗡地打破这阵寂静.
bù shí yǒu zhī kūn chóng wēng wēng wēng dì dǎ pò zhè zhèn jì jìng.
It intervals the drone of an insect bored the air.
9
她用杯子扣住了那只昆虫.
tā yòng bēi zǐ kòu zhù le nà zhī kūn chóng.
She caught the insect by inverting her cup over it.
Cultural Notes for 昆虫
🏮Cultural insight
昆虫 have significant roles in Chinese culture, particularly in traditional medicine and agriculture. For example, certain insects are believed to possess healing properties, and insect collections can be a popular hobby among nature enthusiasts.
Frequently Asked Questions about 昆虫
昆虫 specifically refers to the scientific classification of insects, while terms like 虫 can refer more broadly to any kind of bug or pest.
You can say '我对昆虫的研究很感兴趣' which means 'I am very interested in the study of insects'.
Yes, it's often used in academic, environmental, and agricultural discussions, especially related to biodiversity.
