How to Write 蝗 (huáng) — Meaning “Locust (character component)”

Picture a locust (虫) wearing a golden crown like an emperor (皇) because locusts can cause huge plagues and seem unstoppable. This image helps you connect the insect radical with the sound/visual of 皇.

The left radical 虫 has 6 strokes and should be narrow, while the right part 皇 has 9 strokes and is wider. A common mistake is writing the top of 皇 as 日 (sun) instead of 白 (white) — remember it is a 白 on top of a 王.

All three share the 虫 radical, but their right sides differ. 蛵 (xīng) has 巠 and refers to a rare insect, while 蛸 (shāo) has 肖 and means 'mantis egg case.' 蝗 uses 皇 and specifically means 'locust,' a common pest in agriculture.

蝗 appears in words like 蝗虫 (locust), 蝗灾 (locust plague), and 灭蝗 (to exterminate locusts). It is used mainly in agricultural or news reports about pest outbreaks. Culturally, locust plagues were historic disasters in China, so 蝗 carries a sense of threat and damage.

Common words containing 蝗 include: 蝗虫 (huáng chóng) — Locust; 蝗灾 (huáng zāi) — Locust plague; 灭蝗 (miè huáng) — To exterminate locusts.