蟬 / 蝉
chán
The English word "cicada" is translated into Chinese as 蟬 / 蝉 (chán). If unsure, use 蟬 / 蝉. Wiktionary also lists 知了 (zhīliǎo).
Meaning: any of several insects of the order Hemiptera (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 蟬 / 蝉 | chán |
| 知了 | zhīliǎo |
The term refers to any of the several insects belonging to the order Hemiptera.
What does it mean word for word?
The colloquial term 知了 is a homophone for a phrase meaning 'to know/understand (it/the matter)'.
Which one should you use?
蟬 / 蝉 is the formal biological term, whereas 知了 is a common colloquial term used in daily speech, often because it mimics the insect's sound.
How do you pronounce it?
chán
Did you know?
- Ancient Chinese nobility sometimes placed pieces of jade carved as 蟬 in the mouths of the deceased to preserve the soul.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, the sloughed skins of the 蟬 are sometimes used as a herbal remedy to treat fever and inflammation.
- In traditional Chinese art, the cicada is a common symbol for rebirth or immortality because it spends years underground before emerging to fly.
Examples in context
- 我在树上看到一只蝉在鸣叫。I saw a cicada chirping on the tree.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cicada” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
