How to Write 蚶 (hān) — Meaning “Blood clam / Cockle”

Imagine a clam (虫) that tastes a little sweet (甘) like honey — though blood clams are actually salty. The image of a "sweet bug" can help you recall that 蚶 is a kind of clam. Just remember the clam has a sweet-looking body.

The left radical 虫 should be written with the usual insect stroke order, and it takes about half the width of the character. The right part 甘 has five strokes: first a top horizontal, then two verticals, then two more horizontals. A common mistake is to make the right side too wide or to confuse 甘 (sweet) with 干 (dry).

All three share the 虫 radical, but their right sides differ: 蚶 uses 甘, 虹 uses 工, and 虺 uses 兀. 虹 means rainbow, 虺 refers to a mythical snake, while 蚶 is a blood clam. Visually, the right part of 蚶 has more horizontal strokes than 虹, and a different shape than 虺.

You will mostly encounter 蚶 in seafood contexts, especially in the words 蚶子 (clam) and 血蚶 (blood clam). Blood clams are a popular dish in southern China, often eaten raw with dipping sauce. This character is not part of HSK, so you only need it if you read menus or learn about Chinese cuisine.

Common words containing 蚶 include: 蚶子 (hān zi) — Blood clam / Cockle; 血蚶 (xuè hān) — Blood clam; 蚶肉 (hān ròu) — Clam meat.