蠏 (xiè) - Crab — refers to crustaceans of the infraorder

蠏Tone 4

xiè ｜ 19 strokes ｜ radical:

想信

蠏 · xiè

Crab — refers to crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, typically with a broad carapace, stalked eyes, and five pairs of legs.

Crab — refers to crustaceans of the infraorder

Usage highlights

River crabSea crabHairy crabCrab roeCrab meatCrab shell

Synonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • We ate steamed crab (蒸螃蟹) for dinner.
  • The crab scuttled sideways across the sand (螃蟹横着爬过沙滩).
  • Crab is a popular seafood in coastal regions (螃蟹是沿海地区受欢迎的海鲜).
  • He caught several crabs while fishing (他钓鱼时抓到了几只螃蟹).

Collocations

  • River crab(河蟹)
  • Sea crab(海蟹)
  • Hairy crab(大闸蟹)
  • Crab roe(蟹黄)
  • Crab meat(蟹肉)
  • Crab shell(蟹壳)

Idioms

  • Crab's horizontal walk(螃蟹横行)
  • Crabs in a basket pulling each other down(蟹篓效应)
  • The crab has no intestines(螃蟹无肠)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Crabs symbolize prosperity and good fortune in some Chinese coastal cultures due to their association with harvest from the sea.
  • The crab's sideways movement is often used metaphorically to describe unconventional or indirect approaches in Chinese idioms.
  • Hairy crabs (大闸蟹) are considered a seasonal delicacy in Chinese cuisine, particularly from Yangcheng Lake.

FAQ