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鲔 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲔wěilittle tuna; Euthynnus alletteratusg, 14 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #34418, Very Hard
wěi(wei3)wei T3
  1. 1little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
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March 24, 2026

鲔(鮪)wěi(wei3)

The character 鲔 (wěi) refers specifically to a type of small tuna, known scientifically as Euthynnus alletteratus. It is commonly found in warmer waters and is a popular choice in culinary contexts, especially in sushi and sashimi dishes. Understanding this term can enhance discussions about seafood and dining in Chinese culture.

Strokes14Radical鱼Frequency#34418DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, seafood like 鲔 is celebrated for its fresh flavors and is often featured in high-end dining experiences. The preparation of dishes such as sushi reflects the influence of Japanese cuisine in modern Chinese dining culture.

Memory tip

Imagine a little fish, the tuna, swimming swiftly in the ocean. The character 鲔 has the radical for fish (鱼) on the left, indicating its aquatic nature, while the right side sounds like 'wei,' which could remind you of 'wave' as it moves through water.

Meanings of 鲔

wěi(wei3)
1little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鲔

鲔Simplified
鮪Traditional
14Strokes
鱼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鲔

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Podcast: 鲔

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AI study notes for 鲔

Usage Notes

Be cautious not to confuse 鲔 with similar fish names or other aquatic terms in conversation. This term is generally used in informal contexts, especially among food enthusiasts. Common collocations include 鲔鱼 (tuna fish) and can refer to dishes like 鲔鱼寿司 (tuna sushi).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鲔 is not included in the HSK levels, it can be a great addition for learners interested in culinary vocabulary. Focus on related terms in seafood and dining, as they often appear in menus and conversations about food.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly use 鲔 interchangeably with other fish names like 三文鱼 (salmon). It's important to remember that 鲔 specifically refers to tuna, whereas 三文鱼 refers to a completely different species.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲔

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Etymology of 鲔

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 有 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鮪.

Memory hint

fish

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

Origin

鲔 = 鱼 + 有. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鲔

IDS Structure⿰鱼有
鲔Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
有you3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鲔?

How to say little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus in Chinese

“little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus” in Chinese is鲔wěi

The character 鲔 (wěi) refers specifically to a type of small tuna, known scientifically as Euthynnus alletteratus. It is commonly found in warmer waters and is a popular choice in culinary contexts, especially in sushi and sashimi dishes. Understanding this term can enhance discussions about seafood and dining in Chinese culture.

When to use 鲔

Be cautious not to confuse 鲔 with similar fish names or other aquatic terms in conversation. This term is generally used in informal contexts, especially among food enthusiasts. Common collocations include 鲔鱼 (tuna fish) and can refer to dishes like 鲔鱼寿司 (tuna sushi).

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly use 鲔 interchangeably with other fish names like 三文鱼 (salmon). It's important to remember that 鲔 specifically refers to tuna, whereas 三文鱼 refers to a completely different species.

Write 鲔

鲔

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

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Grammar patterns of 鲔

鲔 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

香辣____鱼,还有厚实的鸡蛋美奶滋面包.

Chilli Tuna with a thick layer of egg mayo on our bread!

Example sentences for 鲔 (1)

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1
香辣鲔鱼,还有厚实的鸡蛋美奶滋面包.

xiāng là wěi yú, háiyǒu hòu shí de jīdàn měi nǎi zī miànbāo.

Chilli Tuna with a thick layer of egg mayo on our bread!

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Word Family of 鲔

Words containing this character2
鲔wěilittle tuna鮪
鲔鱼tuna鮪魚
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 鲔

What does 鲔鱼 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鲔

It means 'little tuna' and refers to a specific type of tuna fish.

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