Chinese Character: 螺
1. Character Basics
Radical: 虫 (chóng, insect radical)
Stroke Count: 17
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: luó (second tone)
3. Meaning
The character 螺 (luó) primarily refers to snails, conches, or spiral-shaped objects. It is often associated with creatures that have spiral shells or with man-made spiral objects.
4. Common Words
- 螺丝 (luósī) - screw
- 海螺 (hǎiluó) - conch
- 螺旋 (luóxuán) - spiral
- 螺蛳 (luósī) - snail (especially freshwater snails)
- 螺栓 (luóshuān) - bolt
- 螺母 (luómǔ) - nut
5. Grammar & Usage
The character 螺 is primarily used as a noun in Chinese. It can appear alone but is more commonly found in compound words, often referring to specific spiral-shaped objects or shellfish.
Examples:
- 作为名词 (as a noun): "这个螺丝生锈了" (This screw is rusty).
- 在复合词中 (in compound words): "螺旋桨" (luóxuánjiǎng - propeller), "螺丝钉" (luósīdīng - screw bolt).
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, snails and conches have been important for thousands of years. Conch shells were used as musical instruments in ancient times and were also symbols of wealth and status.
In Chinese cuisine, snails (螺蛳) are a popular ingredient in certain regional dishes, especially in southern China. Conch shells have also been used in traditional Chinese medicine.
The spiral shape of snails and conches has inspired artistic patterns in Chinese decorative arts, representing continuity and cyclical nature.
7. Example Sentence
中文: 这个螺丝需要用螺丝刀拧紧。
Pinyin: Zhège luósī xūyào yòng luósīdāo nǐngjǐn.
English: This screw needs to be tightened with a screwdriver.
8. Memory Tips
To remember the character 螺 (luó), you can break it down into its components:
- The left part is 虫 (chóng), meaning "insect" or "bug".
- The right part is 累 (lèi), meaning "tired" or "accumulated".
You can imagine a small insect (虫) carrying a heavy, spiral-shaped shell that makes it feel tired (累). This helps connect the character to its meaning of "snail" or "spiral-shaped object".