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鮨 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鮨qísushi; seasoned rice mixed with fishzg, 17 strokes, radical 魚
鮨qígrouper (Portuguese: garoupa)unknown, 17 strokes, radical 魚
鮨qíEpinephelus septemfasciatusunknown, 17 strokes, radical 魚
鮨yìsushi; seasoned rice mixed with fishzg, 17 strokes, radical 魚
鮨yìgrouper (Portuguese: garoupa)unknown, 17 strokes, radical 魚
鮨yìEpinephelus septemfasciatusunknown, 17 strokes, radical 魚
yì(yi4)
primary
T4
  1. 1sushi; seasoned rice mixed with fish
  2. 2grouper (Portuguese: garoupa)
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鮨yì(yi4)

鮨 (yì) refers primarily to sushi, which is seasoned rice typically paired with various types of fish. This term encapsulates both the dish and the cultural significance of sushi in Japanese cuisine, highlighting its popularity in modern dining contexts, especially in sushi restaurants.

Strokes17Radical魚
Cultural Note

Sushi culture is significant in both Japan and increasingly in China, where sushi dining has become popular. The rise of sushi restaurants signifies a blending of culinary traditions, making 鮨 a representation of this cultural exchange.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef expertly preparing sushi, with a big 'YEE!' of excitement as they present a colorful platter. The character 鮨 has the fish radical 魚 (yú), reminding you of the fish component in sushi, while the 'Y' sound in 'YEE' helps you remember the pronunciation 'yì'.

Meanings of 鮨

yì(yi4)
primary
1sushi; seasoned rice mixed with fish
2grouper (Portuguese: garoupa)
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鮨

鮨Simplified
17Strokes
魚Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鮨

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鮨

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鮨

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 鮨 specifically in contexts related to sushi, as it may not be recognized in more general discussions about fish. It is often seen in culinary contexts, so using it in formal dining discussions is appropriate. Avoid confusing it with other words for fish like 鱼 (yú).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鮨 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it connects well with food-related terms found in HSK levels 3-5, such as 饭 (fàn - rice) and 菜 (cài - dish). Students should focus on food vocabulary and phrases commonly used in restaurants.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鮨 with 鱼 (yú) and use it incorrectly in general discussions about fish. For example, saying '我喜欢鲜鱼' (Wǒ xǐhuān xiān yú - I like fresh sushi) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢鲜鮨' (Wǒ xǐhuān xiān yì).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鮨

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Etymology of 鮨

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

fish

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鮨

  1. 1The meaning half魚 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half旨 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 鮨? 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 鮨?

Decomposition of 鮨

IDS Structure⿰魚旨
鮨Full Character
=
魚yu2
left
旨zhi3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鮨?

How to say sushi; seasoned rice mixed with fish in Chinese

“sushi; seasoned rice mixed with fish” in Chinese is鮨qí

鮨 (yì) refers primarily to sushi, which is seasoned rice typically paired with various types of fish. This term encapsulates both the dish and the cultural significance of sushi in Japanese cuisine, highlighting its popularity in modern dining contexts, especially in sushi restaurants.

When to use 鮨

Be careful to use 鮨 specifically in contexts related to sushi, as it may not be recognized in more general discussions about fish. It is often seen in culinary contexts, so using it in formal dining discussions is appropriate. Avoid confusing it with other words for fish like 鱼 (yú).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鮨 with 鱼 (yú) and use it incorrectly in general discussions about fish. For example, saying '我喜欢鲜鱼' (Wǒ xǐhuān xiān yú - I like fresh sushi) is incorrect; it should be '我喜欢鲜鮨' (Wǒ xǐhuān xiān yì).

Write 鮨

鮨

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Cultural Notes for 鮨

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

In Western cultures, sushi is often seen as a trendy dish, whereas in Japan, it is a traditional culinary art with deep cultural roots and etiquette surrounding its consumption.

Word Family of 鮨

Words Containing This Character1
鮨yìsushi
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鮨 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鮨

鮨 specifically refers to sushi, which includes seasoned rice, while other terms like 鱼 (yú) refer to fish in general.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鮨?

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.