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鲕 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲕érroeg, 14 strokes, radical 鱼
鲕ércaviarunknown, 14 strokes, radical 鱼
鲕érfish roeunknown, 14 strokes, radical 鱼
ér(er2)er T2
  1. 1roe
  2. 2caviar
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March 24, 2026

鲕(鮞)ér(er2)

The character 鲕 (ér) refers to fish roe or caviar, typically the eggs of fish that are considered a delicacy. It is used in culinary contexts, especially in discussions about gourmet foods and seafood dishes, where roe might be served as a topping or ingredient.

Strokes14Radical鱼
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, fish roe is often celebrated during festivals or special occasions, highlighting its status as a luxury food item. It is commonly used in dishes like sushi and is associated with prosperity and abundance in cultural symbolism.

Memory tip

Imagine a fish swimming with its 'eggs' (ér) as a treasure. The character 鲕 combines the radical for water (氵) with a representation of fish (鱼), emphasizing its aquatic nature and its association with precious food.

Meanings of 鲕

ér(er2)
1roe
2caviar
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鲕

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

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Podcast: 鲕

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AI study notes for 鲕

Quick Contrast

鱼子 (yú zǐ, fish eggs) — use 鲕 (ér) for gourmet or delicacy contexts, while 鱼子 (yú zǐ) is more general.

Usage Notes

Roe is often mentioned in culinary discussions, so it is mostly used in formal or semi-formal contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '鱼子酱' (fish roe sauce) and '鱼卵' (fish eggs). Be careful with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone may confuse it with unrelated words.

HSK Study Tips

As a character not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it may be useful for advanced learners interested in gastronomy or regional cuisines. Focus on its connections to other food-related vocabulary to enhance culinary discussions.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鲕 with similar characters like 鱼 (fish) or 卵 (egg). For example, saying '我想要鱼卵' (I want fish eggs) when they mean caviar may confuse native speakers, who expect a more specific term.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲕

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Etymology of 鲕

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

fish

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

Origin

鲕 = 鱼 + 而. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鲕

IDS Structure⿰鱼而
鲕Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
而er2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鲕?

How to say roe in Chinese

“roe” in Chinese is鲕ér

The character 鲕 (ér) refers to fish roe or caviar, typically the eggs of fish that are considered a delicacy. It is used in culinary contexts, especially in discussions about gourmet foods and seafood dishes, where roe might be served as a topping or ingredient.

When to use 鲕

Roe is often mentioned in culinary discussions, so it is mostly used in formal or semi-formal contexts. Common collocations include phrases like '鱼子酱' (fish roe sauce) and '鱼卵' (fish eggs). Be careful with the pronunciation, as misplacing the tone may confuse it with unrelated words.

鲕 or something close to it

鱼子 (yú zǐ, fish eggs) — use 鲕 (ér) for gourmet or delicacy contexts, while 鱼子 (yú zǐ) is more general.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鲕 with similar characters like 鱼 (fish) or 卵 (egg). For example, saying '我想要鱼卵' (I want fish eggs) when they mean caviar may confuse native speakers, who expect a more specific term.

Write 鲕

鲕

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Word Family of 鲕

Words containing this character1
鲕ércaviar鮞

Frequently asked questions about 鲕

Common examples include salmon, trout, and sturgeon, each offering unique flavors.

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