虾

蝦

há, xiā

下 + 虫

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

xiā (noun) shrimp; prawn

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 虫 represents the meaning and 下 represents the sound. Simplified form of 蝦.

Semantic: 虫 Phonetic: 下

About

虾 (xiā), the simplified form of 蝦, is a phono-semantic compound combining the insect radical 虫 (chóng) on the left with the sound component 下 (xià) on the right. In the traditional character, the phonetic was 叚 (jiǎ), which the simplified form replaces with a simpler, similar-sounding element. The 虫 radical historically serves as a broad classifier for insects, reptiles, amphibians, and various small marine invertebrates. The character primarily denotes shrimp and prawns. It also has a reading há, used in specific compounds for toads and frogs, illustrating the radical's wide semantic range.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

虾是一种海鲜。

Xiā shì yī zhǒng hǎixiān.

Shrimp is a type of seafood.

妈妈炒了一盘虾。

Māma chǎo le yī pán xiā.

Mom stir-fried a plate of shrimp.

我喜欢去市场买虾。

Wǒ xǐhuān qù shìchǎng mǎi xiā.

I like to go to the market to buy shrimp.

龙虾比普通虾贵。

Lóngxiā bǐ pǔtōng xiā guì.

Lobster is more expensive than ordinary shrimp.

他用虾仁做了饺子馅。

Tā yòng xiārén zuò le jiǎozi xiàn.

He used shrimp meat to make dumpling filling.

在宴会上，虾是常见的开胃菜。

Zài yànhuì shàng, xiā shì chángjiàn de kāiwèicài.

At banquets, shrimp is a common appetizer.

由于过敏，他不能吃任何虾类食品。

Yóuyú guòmǐn, tā bùnéng chī rènhé xiā lèi shípǐn.

Due to allergies, he cannot eat any shrimp-based foods.

厨师精心烹制的蒜蓉虾香气四溢。

Chúshī jīngxīn pēngzhì de suànróng xiā xiāngqì sì yì.

The chef's carefully cooked garlic shrimp aroma wafts everywhere.

Related Characters

Component: 下

Component: 虫

虾