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鯡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鯡fēiherringx, 19 strokes, radical 魚
fēi(fei1)fei T1
  1. 1herring
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March 24, 2026

鯡fēi(fei1)

The character 鯡 (fēi) refers specifically to herring, a type of small, oily fish commonly found in the North Atlantic. It is often used in culinary contexts, particularly in Asian cuisine, where herring can be pickled or grilled. The term is less frequently encountered in everyday conversation compared to other fish names, making it more specialized.

Strokes19Radical魚
Cultural note

Herring is often featured in traditional Chinese cuisine, especially in coastal regions where fishing is a staple of the economy. It is also associated with various fishing festivals, highlighting the importance of fish in Chinese culture.

Memory tip

To remember 鯡 (fēi), think of a fish swimming freely in the sea (the radical '魚' meaning fish). Imagine a 'fey' fish that dances gracefully in the waves, helping you connect the pronunciation 'fēi' with the visual of the fish.

Meanings of 鯡

fēi(fei1)
1herring
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鯡

鯡Simplified
19Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鯡

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Podcast: 鯡

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AI study notes for 鯡

Usage Notes

When using 鯡, it is important to ensure that you are speaking about the specific type of herring, as there are many types of fish in Chinese. It is more common in formal contexts, such as menus or culinary discussions, rather than in casual conversation. Be cautious of tone, as 'fēi' (first tone) can be confused with 'fèi' (fourth tone), which has a different meaning.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鯡 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects with food-related terms common in HSK Level 3 and 4. Students should focus on fish-related vocabulary and phrases, as well as context-specific usage.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鯡 (herring) with other fish names, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, saying '我喜欢鯡' (I like herring) when referring to a general type of fish, instead of specifying it in a context where herring is highlighted.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鯡

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Etymology of 鯡

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 非 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鯡.

Memory hint

fish

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

Origin

鯡 = 魚 + 非. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鯡

IDS Structure⿰魚非
鯡Full character
=
魚yu2
left
非Fei1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鯡?

How to say herring in Chinese

“herring” in Chinese is鯡fēi

The character 鯡 (fēi) refers specifically to herring, a type of small, oily fish commonly found in the North Atlantic. It is often used in culinary contexts, particularly in Asian cuisine, where herring can be pickled or grilled. The term is less frequently encountered in everyday conversation compared to other fish names, making it more specialized.

When to use 鯡

When using 鯡, it is important to ensure that you are speaking about the specific type of herring, as there are many types of fish in Chinese. It is more common in formal contexts, such as menus or culinary discussions, rather than in casual conversation. Be cautious of tone, as 'fēi' (first tone) can be confused with 'fèi' (fourth tone), which has a different meaning.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鯡 (herring) with other fish names, leading to incorrect usage. For instance, saying '我喜欢鯡' (I like herring) when referring to a general type of fish, instead of specifying it in a context where herring is highlighted.

Write 鯡

鯡

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

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Word Family of 鯡

Words containing this character2
鲱鱼fēiyúherring鯡魚
鲱fēiPacific herring鯡
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 鯡

What does 鲱鱼 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鯡

鯡 specifically refers to herring, while other names like 魚 (yú) are more general terms for fish.

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