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苍蝇 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
苍蝇cāngyinghouseflyHSK 7, unknown, rank #5851, Hard
cāngying(cang1ying5) T1
  1. 1housefly
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March 24, 2026
苍蝇(蒼蠅)cāngying(cang1ying5)

苍蝇 (cāngyíng) refers to a housefly, a common insect often found in homes and other buildings. It is typically associated with uncleanliness and can be a nuisance as it tends to gather around food. In various contexts, the presence of flies can symbolize decay or neglect.

Frequency#5851DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, flies are often seen as pests that symbolize poor hygiene. This perception is reflected in proverbs and sayings that caution against neglecting cleanliness.

Memory Tip

Imagine a fly (苍蝇) buzzing around a 'cane' (sound similarity with 'cang') and 'ying' (sounds like 'wing'). Visualize a cane made of wings, reminding you of the flying nature of the housefly.

Meanings of 苍蝇

cāngying(cang1ying5)
1housefly
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About 苍蝇

苍蝇Simplified
蒼蠅Traditional
Strokes
Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Measure Word
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedTOCFLL5CEFRC2

Podcast: 苍蝇

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Podcast: 苍蝇

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AI Study Notes for 苍蝇

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a fly (苍蝇) buzzing around a 'cane' (sound similarity with 'cang') and 'ying' (sounds like 'wing'). Visualize a cane made of wings, reminding you of the flying nature of the housefly.

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 苍蝇 with other insect names, such as 蚊子 (wénzi) for mosquito. It's commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but remember to use the term in discussions about hygiene or pest control. Pay attention to the tones to avoid misunderstanding.

HSK Study Tips

Although 苍蝇 is not an HSK vocab word, it fits well with HSK 1-2 level themes related to animals and daily life. Students should focus on the tones and practice using it in sentences about cleanliness or the environment.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, flies are often seen as pests that symbolize poor hygiene. This perception is reflected in proverbs and sayings that caution against neglecting cleanliness.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse the pronunciation, saying 'cang ying' instead of 'cāngyíng'. Additionally, they may mistakenly use 苍蝇 in contexts where a different insect term is more appropriate.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 苍蝇

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Component Characters

Cāngdark blue
7 strokes
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yíngfly, musca
14 strokes
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Write 苍蝇

Practice writing 苍蝇 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Cultural Notes for 苍蝇

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, flies are often seen as pests that symbolize poor hygiene. This perception is reflected in proverbs and sayings that caution against neglecting cleanliness.

Frequently Asked Questions about 苍蝇

苍蝇 refers specifically to houseflies, while 蚊子 refers to mosquitoes, which are known for biting.