Mandarin TempleMandarin Temple Beta Come for Knowledge. Stay for Wisdom.
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
魷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
魷yóucuttlefishx, 15 strokes, radical 魚
yóu(you2) T2
  1. 1cuttlefish
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

魷yóu(you2)

The character 魷 (yóu) refers specifically to cuttlefish, a type of cephalopod mollusk closely related to squids and octopuses. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in Chinese cuisine, where cuttlefish is valued for its unique texture and flavor.

Strokes15Radical魚
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, 魷 is often featured in dishes like stir-fries and soups, particularly in coastal regions where seafood is a staple. It is also used in traditional festivals and celebrations, showcasing its importance in Chinese culinary culture.

Memory Tip

Think of 魷 as a 'yoyo' (yóu sounds similar) that dives into the ocean. The radical 魚 (fish) indicates its aquatic nature, while the rest of the character suggests its unique shape, reminiscent of a yoyo spinning in water.

Meanings of 魷

yóu(you2)
1cuttlefish
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 魷

魷Simplified
15Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 魷

JasonAmy

Podcast: 魷

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 魷

Quick Contrast

墨鱼 (mò yú, squid) - 魷 specifically refers to cuttlefish, while 墨鱼 refers to squid, which is a different type of cephalopod.

Usage Notes

When discussing 魷, it’s important to use the correct tone (second tone). Common collocations include 魷魚 (yóu yú), meaning 'cuttlefish' or 'squid' in a more general sense. Avoid confusing it with similar characters like 魚 (yú) which means 'fish'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 魷 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to HSK level 4 food-related vocabulary. Students should focus on contextual usage in culinary conversations and learn related terms like 魚 (fish) and 蛋 (egg) for broader discussions on seafood.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 魷 with 魚 due to their similar appearances. For example, saying 魚 (yú) instead of 魷 (yóu) when ordering seafood could lead to misunderstandings about what dish you want.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 魷

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 魷 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 魷

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 尤 represents the sound. Simplified form of 魷.

Memory Hint

fish

Semantic (meaning)魚
+
Phonetic (sound)尤
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 魷

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 尤 represents the sound. Simplified form of 魷.

  1. 1The meaning half魚 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half尤 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 魷? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 魷?

Decomposition of 魷

IDS Structure⿰魚尤
魷Full Character
=
魚yu2
left
尤You2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 魷?

How to say cuttlefish in Chinese

“cuttlefish” in Chinese is魷yóu

The character 魷 (yóu) refers specifically to cuttlefish, a type of cephalopod mollusk closely related to squids and octopuses. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in Chinese cuisine, where cuttlefish is valued for its unique texture and flavor.

When to use 魷

When discussing 魷, it’s important to use the correct tone (second tone). Common collocations include 魷魚 (yóu yú), meaning 'cuttlefish' or 'squid' in a more general sense. Avoid confusing it with similar characters like 魚 (yú) which means 'fish'.

魷 or something close to it

墨鱼 (mò yú, squid) - 魷 specifically refers to cuttlefish, while 墨鱼 refers to squid, which is a different type of cephalopod.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 魷 with 魚 due to their similar appearances. For example, saying 魚 (yú) instead of 魷 (yóu) when ordering seafood could lead to misunderstandings about what dish you want.

Write 魷

魷

Practice writing 魷 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 魷

Words Containing This Character3
鱿鱼squid魷魚
鱿yóucuttlefish魷
炒鱿鱼to sack sb炒魷魚
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 鱿鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 魷

魷 refers specifically to cuttlefish, while 魚 is a more general term for fish.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 魷?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.