How to Write 螳 (táng) — Meaning “mantis”

Imagine a praying mantis sitting on a piece of candy, because 螳 sounds like "táng" which means sugar or candy in Chinese. Picture the mantis raising its arms as if ready to fight, which also helps you remember the mantis shape. This silly image connects the sound and meaning together.

Write the left radical 虫 first with 6 strokes, making it narrow. Then write the right part 唐, which starts with 广 (a dot, then a left-falling stroke), followed by a horizontal stroke inside, then 肀 and 口. A common mistake is forgetting the short horizontal stroke inside the 广 component.

All three characters share the 虫 radical, but the right side differs: 螳 has 唐, 蝌 (tadpole) has 科, and 蝎 (scorpion) has 曷. Visually, 唐 has more strokes and a distinct top shape, while 科 looks like a crop plant and 曷 has a sun-like element. Their meanings are completely different despite the same insect radical.

螳 is mainly used in the word 螳螂 (praying mantis), often in biology or nature contexts. It also appears in 螳螂拳, a famous Chinese martial arts style that imitates the mantis's fighting moves. Culturally, the idiom 螳臂当车 (mantis arm blocking a chariot) warns against overestimating one's strength.

Common words containing 螳 include: 螳螂 (táng láng) — praying mantis; 螳臂 (táng bì) — mantis arm; 螳螂拳 (táng láng quán) — Mantis Boxing (martial arts style).