知了

zhīliǎo

noun #35,022

Measure Word

一只知了 zhī

Meanings

1 cicada

Characters

Examples

HSK 3

小孩子喜欢抓知了。

Xiǎoháizi xǐhuān zhuā zhīliǎo.

Kids love catching cicadas.

HSK 5

夏天树上的知了叫个不停。

Xiàtiān shùshàng de zhīliǎo jiào ge bùtíng.

The cicadas on the trees in summer cry nonstop.

Tips

memory

The name 知了 mimics the cicada's call: "zhī-liǎo, zhī-liǎo." It's an onomatopoeia, literally "know-already," as if the bug is claiming it understands everything.

Stroke Order

知 zhī

了 le