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鱈 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
xuěcodfishx, 22 strokes, radical 魚, rank #96209, Very Hard
xuě(xue3) T3
  1. 1codfish
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March 24, 2026

xuě(xue3)

The character 鱈 (xuě) refers specifically to codfish, a popular fish species known for its mild flavor and flaky texture. It is commonly used in various cuisines, especially in dishes such as fish and chips or as a key ingredient in soups and stews. In Chinese culture, codfish is often associated with prosperity and abundance, making it a favorable dish during celebrations.

Strokes22RadicalFrequency#96209DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, fish is often served during New Year celebrations as it symbolizes surplus and prosperity. Codfish, in particular, is appreciated for its quality and is commonly featured in festive meals.

Memory Tip

Imagine a snowy landscape (the 'xue' in xuě means snow) where a codfish swims through the icy waters. The character 鱈 has a fish radical (魚) indicating it is a type of fish, while the top part resembles snowflakes, linking the sound and meaning together.

Meanings of 鱈

xuě(xue3)
1codfish
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鱈

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

Podcast: 鱈

JasonAmy

Podcast:

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AI Study Notes for 鱈

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a snowy landscape (the 'xue' in xuě means snow) where a codfish swims through the icy waters. The character 鱈 has a fish radical (魚) indicating it is a type of fish, while the top part resembles snowflakes, linking the sound and meaning together.

Usage Notes

This word is relatively formal and is most often used in culinary contexts. Be careful not to confuse 鱈 with other types of fish like 魚 (yú, meaning fish in general) or other specific fish names. In written form, it is less common in everyday conversation but is important in cooking and food-related discussions.

HSK Study Tips

While 鱈 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it’s beneficial for learners at higher levels, especially when studying food-related topics. Understanding this character can help improve vocabulary related to culinary arts, which often comes up in HSK 4 and above.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, fish is often served during New Year celebrations as it symbolizes surplus and prosperity. Codfish, in particular, is appreciated for its quality and is commonly featured in festive meals.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鱈 with 魚 (yú), which means fish in general. For example, saying '我喜欢吃魚' (Wǒ xǐhuān chī yú) when they really mean 'I like to eat cod' should instead use '鱈' to be specific.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鱈

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Etymology of 鱈

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 雪 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鱈.

Memory Hint

fish

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

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鱈?

Decomposition of 鱈

IDS Structure⿰魚雪
Full Character
=
yu2
left
Xue3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鱈?

Write 鱈

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

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Cultural Notes for 鱈

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, fish is often served during New Year celebrations as it symbolizes surplus and prosperity. Codfish, in particular, is appreciated for its quality and is commonly featured in festive meals.

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While cod is a popular dish in Western cuisines, such as British fish and chips, it may not hold the same symbolic significance in Western culture as it does in Chinese celebrations.

Word Family of 鱈

Words Containing This Character2
鳕鱼cod鱈魚
xuěcodfish
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鳕鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鱈

It is pronounced 'xuě', with a falling tone.