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鯢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鯢nísalamander; Cryptobranchus japonicusx, 19 strokes, radical 魚
ní(ni2) T2
  1. 1salamander; Cryptobranchus japonicus
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鯢ní(ni2)

The character 鯢 (ní) refers to a type of large aquatic salamander, specifically the Japanese giant salamander (Cryptobranchus japonicus). It is commonly found in freshwater river systems and is known for its significant size and unique appearance, often associated with the biodiversity of Japan's ecosystems.

Strokes19Radical魚
Cultural Note

In Japan, the giant salamander (鯢) is a national treasure and symbolizes the rich biodiversity of the region. It is also associated with local folklore and is sometimes considered a guardian of rivers.

Memory Tip

Imagine a giant salamander lounging in a cool river, its body resembling a flowing stream. The character 鯢 has the fish radical 魚, which hints at its aquatic nature. The pronunciation 'ní' sounds like 'knee,' so picture this salamander lounging on its knees in the water, creating a memorable image of its habitat.

Meanings of 鯢

ní(ni2)
1salamander; Cryptobranchus japonicus
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鯢

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

Podcast: 鯢

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Podcast: 鯢

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AI Study Notes for 鯢

Usage Notes

When using 鯢, be cautious as it is a less common term and may not be understood outside specific biological or ecological discussions. It is more formal and scientific, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Collocations may include terms related to wildlife conservation and aquatic ecosystems.

HSK Study Tips

While 鯢 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to other aquatic life terms that might be relevant for learners interested in biology or environmental science. Students should focus on the characters for other animals and their habitats to build related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鯢 with similar sounding characters like 魚 (fish), which refers to general fish rather than this specific salamander. Remember that 鯢 specifically denotes the giant salamander.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鯢

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Etymology of 鯢

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

fish

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鯢

  1. 1The meaning half魚 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half兒 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 鯢? 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 鯢?

Decomposition of 鯢

IDS Structure⿰魚兒
鯢Full Character
=
魚yu2
left
兒er2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鯢?

How to say salamander; Cryptobranchus japonicus in Chinese

“salamander; Cryptobranchus japonicus” in Chinese is鯢ní

The character 鯢 (ní) refers to a type of large aquatic salamander, specifically the Japanese giant salamander (Cryptobranchus japonicus). It is commonly found in freshwater river systems and is known for its significant size and unique appearance, often associated with the biodiversity of Japan's ecosystems.

When to use 鯢

When using 鯢, be cautious as it is a less common term and may not be understood outside specific biological or ecological discussions. It is more formal and scientific, so avoid using it in casual conversation. Collocations may include terms related to wildlife conservation and aquatic ecosystems.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鯢 with similar sounding characters like 魚 (fish), which refers to general fish rather than this specific salamander. Remember that 鯢 specifically denotes the giant salamander.

Write 鯢

鯢

Practice writing 鯢 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 鯢

Words Containing This Character2
大鲵giant salamander (Andrias japonicus)大鯢
鲵nísalamander鯢
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 大鲵 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鯢

It is pronounced as 'ní'.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鯢?

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.