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鰲 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鰲áohuge sea turtlex, 22 strokes, radical 魚
áo(ao2)ao T2
  1. 1huge sea turtle
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March 24, 2026

鰲áo(ao2)

The character 鰲 (áo) refers to a huge sea turtle, often symbolizing longevity and wisdom in Chinese culture. It is primarily used in literary or poetic contexts rather than everyday speech, reflecting its mythical associations rather than practical usage.

Strokes22Radical魚
Cultural note

In Chinese mythology, the sea turtle is often associated with longevity and is one of the Four Sacred Animals, symbolizing protection and stability. The image of a giant turtle is frequently used in art and literature to convey deep wisdom and enduring strength.

Memory tip

Imagine a giant sea turtle, its shell resembling a protective armor, swimming gracefully in the ocean. The character 鰲 has the radical 魚 (yú) for 'fish,' reminding you of its aquatic nature, while the sound 'áo' can be associated with the deep, resonant calls of ancient turtles in folklore.

Meanings of 鰲

áo(ao2)
1huge sea turtle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鰲

鰲Simplified
22Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鰲

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Podcast: 鰲

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AI study notes for 鰲

Usage Notes

This character is rarely used in spoken Mandarin and is more common in written forms or classical literature. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; it is important to use it in appropriate literary contexts to avoid sounding overly formal in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鰲 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to themes of nature and animals found in earlier levels. Students should familiarize themselves with animal-related vocabulary and practice recognizing characters with similar structures to improve their reading skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鰲 with other animal characters due to similar sounds or radicals. For example, incorrectly using 鰲 when intending to say 'fish' (鱼 yú) can lead to misunderstandings.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鰲

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Etymology of 鰲

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 敖 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鰲.

Memory hint

fish

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

Origin

鰲 = 魚 + 敖. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鰲

IDS Structure⿱敖魚
鰲Full character
=
敖Ao2
top
魚yu2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鰲?

How to say huge sea turtle in Chinese

“huge sea turtle” in Chinese is鰲áo

The character 鰲 (áo) refers to a huge sea turtle, often symbolizing longevity and wisdom in Chinese culture. It is primarily used in literary or poetic contexts rather than everyday speech, reflecting its mythical associations rather than practical usage.

When to use 鰲

This character is rarely used in spoken Mandarin and is more common in written forms or classical literature. Learners should be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words; it is important to use it in appropriate literary contexts to avoid sounding overly formal in casual conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鰲 with other animal characters due to similar sounds or radicals. For example, incorrectly using 鰲 when intending to say 'fish' (鱼 yú) can lead to misunderstandings.

Write 鰲

鰲

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Word Family of 鰲

Words containing this character3
独占鳌头dúzhàn’áotóuto be the champion獨佔鰲頭
鳌áomythological sea turtle鰲
博鳌镇bó’áozhènBo'ao seaside resort, Hainan博鰲鎮
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 鰲

What does 独占鳌头 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鰲

No, 鰲 is mainly used in literary contexts and is not commonly heard in everyday conversation.

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