蚌

clam

Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

ボウ
ホウ
ビョウ

Kun'yomi

はまぐり
どぶが.い

Meaning

蚌 centers on a bivalve mollusk: a clam. The meaning is concrete and specific to this shellfish.

Most common words using 蚌

鷸蚌いつぼう
a snipe and a clam; a snipe and a mussel
鷸蚌の争いいつぼうのあらそい
fight from which neither part benefits (but a third part does); a fight between the snipe and the clam (ends in the fisherman's profit)

Explore all words using 蚌 →

Study

Etymology

蚌 combines 虫 (insect/creature) with 丰, which likely contributes a phonetic element. The character refers to a clam, a shelled creature.

Meaning mnemonic

The left side 虫 suggests a small creature, and the right side 丰 looks like a shell with lines. Together they form a clam: a creature with a lined shell.

Reading mnemonic

For ボウ, imagine a bow-shaped clam shell opening and closing: bow -> ボウ, and the clam creature inside.