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鯊 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鯊shāsharkx, 18 strokes, radical 魚, rank #20979, Very Hard
shā(sha1)sha T1
  1. 1shark
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March 24, 2026

鯊shā(sha1)

The character 鯊 (shā) refers specifically to a shark, a large predatory fish known for its sharp teeth and streamlined body. In Chinese, it is commonly used in contexts related to marine life, fishing, and cuisine, particularly when discussing shark fin soup, a controversial delicacy in Chinese culture.

Strokes18Radical魚Frequency#20979DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Shark fin soup is a traditional dish in Chinese cuisine, often served at banquets and celebrations, but it has sparked significant debates about sustainability and animal rights in recent years. The character 鯊 thus embodies both culinary tradition and contemporary ethical concerns.

Memory tip

Imagine a sharp, sleek shark swimming in the sea. The character 鯊 looks like a fish leaping out of water, with the radical 魚 (fish) indicating its aquatic nature. The pronunciation 'shā' can be remembered by thinking of 'shark' starting with the same 'sh' sound.

Meanings of 鯊

shā(sha1)
1shark
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鯊

鯊Simplified
18Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鯊

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Podcast: 鯊

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AI Study Notes for 鯊

Quick Contrast

鲨 (shā, another character for shark) — use 鯊 for traditional contexts or specific literature, while 鲨 is more common in modern usage.

Usage Notes

Be cautious when using 鯊 in conversation, as it can sometimes carry negative connotations due to the environmental impact of shark fishing. It is generally used in formal contexts when discussing marine biology or cuisine. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words; ensure the correct tone and pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

While 鯊 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it relates to other animal characters you may learn at this level, like 魚 (fish). Focus on pronunciation and recognizing the radical for fish, which can help you understand similar aquatic terms.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鯊 with similar characters, such as 魚 (fish). A common mistake is to mispronounce it as 'yú' instead of 'shā'. Always remember the correct tone and context.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鯊

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Etymology of 鯊

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 沙 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鯊.

Memory hint

fish

Semantic (meaning)魚
+
Phonetic (sound)沙
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

鯊 = 魚 + 沙. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鯊

IDS Structure⿱沙魚
鯊Full character
=
沙Sha1
top
魚yu2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鯊?

How to say shark in Chinese

“shark” in Chinese is鯊shā

The character 鯊 (shā) refers specifically to a shark, a large predatory fish known for its sharp teeth and streamlined body. In Chinese, it is commonly used in contexts related to marine life, fishing, and cuisine, particularly when discussing shark fin soup, a controversial delicacy in Chinese culture.

When to use 鯊

Be cautious when using 鯊 in conversation, as it can sometimes carry negative connotations due to the environmental impact of shark fishing. It is generally used in formal contexts when discussing marine biology or cuisine. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words; ensure the correct tone and pronunciation.

鯊 or something close to it

鲨 (shā, another character for shark) — use 鯊 for traditional contexts or specific literature, while 鲨 is more common in modern usage.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鯊 with similar characters, such as 魚 (fish). A common mistake is to mispronounce it as 'yú' instead of 'shā'. Always remember the correct tone and context.

Write 鯊

鯊

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

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Word Family of 鯊

Words containing this character3
鲨鱼shāyúshark鯊魚
鲨shāshark鯊
鲸鲨whale shark鯨鯊
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 鯊

What does 鲨鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鯊

It is pronounced as 'shā', similar to the English word 'shark'.

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