How to Write 蜊 (lí) — Meaning “Clam”

Imagine a clam (虫) that is so sharp (利) it can cut through the sand to hide. The right side 利 looks like a knife and represents the clam's sharp shell edge. This visual helps connect the insect radical to the idea of a hard-shelled sea creature.

蜊 (lí) means clam and is only used in words like 蛤蜊 (gé lí). 蚯 (qiū) is the first character in 蚯蚓 (earthworm), while 蚰 (yóu) appears in 蚰蜒 (centipede). Visually, 蜊 has the right side 利 (sharp), 蚯 has 丘 (hill), and 蚰 has 由 (reason). Their meanings are completely different living creatures.

蜊 is almost always used in the word 蛤蜊 (gé lí), meaning clam, a common seafood ingredient in Chinese cuisine. You might see it on menus in dishes like 炒蛤蜊 (stir-fried clams) or 蛤蜊汤 (clam soup). There is no special cultural symbolism; it's a practical character for food and market contexts.

Common words containing 蜊 include: 蛤蜊 (gé lí) — Clam; 炒蛤蜊 (chǎo gé lí) — stir-fried clams; 蛤蜊肉 (gé lí ròu) — Clam meat.