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鲅 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲅bàChinese mackerelns, 13 strokes, radical 鱼
bà(ba4)ba T4
  1. 1Chinese mackerel
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March 24, 2026

鲅(鮁)bà(ba4)

The character 鲅 (bà) refers to the Chinese mackerel, a type of fish commonly found in East Asian waters. It is often used in culinary contexts, especially in dishes that highlight fresh seafood. Understanding this term can enhance your vocabulary related to food and dining in Chinese culture.

Strokes13Radical鱼
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, fresh seafood is highly valued, and dishes featuring 鲅 can often be found in coastal regions. The mackerel is appreciated for its flavor and is a popular choice in many traditional recipes.

Memory tip

Imagine a big, shiny mackerel swimming in the ocean. The character 鲅 has the radical for fish (鱼) which resembles a fish swimming, and the sound 'bà' can remind you of 'bat,' which can be thought of as 'battling' the waves of the sea. Picture the mackerel bravely battling through the water!

Meanings of 鲅

bà(ba4)
1Chinese mackerel
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鲅

鲅Simplified
鮁Traditional
13Strokes
鱼Radical
地名míngcíplace name (p.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鲅

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Podcast: 鲅

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AI study notes for 鲅

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 鲅 with similar fish-related characters like 鮁 (bà) or 鱼 (yú). It's important to use the correct character when discussing specific types of fish. This term is more common in informal contexts, especially when ordering food or discussing cooking.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鲅 is not in the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to Level 1 and 2 words like 鱼 (fish) and 吃 (to eat). Focus on the food-related vocabulary at this level to build a strong foundation for discussing meals and ingredients.

Common Mistakes

A common mistake is using 鲅 incorrectly in contexts unrelated to fish, such as in phrases about non-seafood dishes. Always pair it with words related to food or seafood to avoid confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲅

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Etymology of 鲅

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

fish

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

Origin

鲅 = 鱼 + 犮. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鲅

IDS Structure⿰鱼犮
鲅Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
犮ba2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鲅?

How to say Chinese mackerel in Chinese

“Chinese mackerel” in Chinese is鲅bà

The character 鲅 (bà) refers to the Chinese mackerel, a type of fish commonly found in East Asian waters. It is often used in culinary contexts, especially in dishes that highlight fresh seafood. Understanding this term can enhance your vocabulary related to food and dining in Chinese culture.

When to use 鲅

Learners often confuse 鲅 with similar fish-related characters like 鮁 (bà) or 鱼 (yú). It's important to use the correct character when discussing specific types of fish. This term is more common in informal contexts, especially when ordering food or discussing cooking.

What learners get wrong

A common mistake is using 鲅 incorrectly in contexts unrelated to fish, such as in phrases about non-seafood dishes. Always pair it with words related to food or seafood to avoid confusion.

Write 鲅

鲅

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

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Word Family of 鲅

Words containing this character3
鲅bàJapanese Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius)鮁
鲅鱼Japanese Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius)鮁魚
鲅鱼圈区Bayuquan district of Yingkou City 營口市|营口市, Liaoning鮁魚圈區
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 鲅

What does 鲅鱼 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鲅

It is pronounced as 'bà' with a falling tone.

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