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鲟 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲟xúnsturgeong, 14 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #30191, Very Hard
鲟xúnAcipenser sturiounknown, 14 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #30191, Very Hard
xún(xun2) T2
  1. 1sturgeon
  2. 2Acipenser sturio
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鲟(鱘)xún(xun2)

The character 鲟 (xún) refers specifically to the sturgeon, a type of fish known for its caviar and long lifespan. It is commonly used in discussions about seafood, aquaculture, and culinary traditions in China, especially in relation to luxury dining and gourmet dishes.

Strokes14Radical鱼Frequency#30191DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

Sturgeon is highly valued in Chinese cuisine, particularly for its roe, which is considered a delicacy. The historical significance of sturgeon fishing in certain regions of China reflects the importance of luxury ingredients in traditional Chinese gastronomy.

Memory Tip

Imagine a long, sleek fish swimming gracefully through the water. The character 鲟 includes the radical '魚' (yú), meaning fish, which helps you remember that it's a type of fish. Picture the sturgeon, known for its valuable roe, gliding in a river, and let the sound 'xún' remind you of a smooth swim.

Meanings of 鲟

xún(xun2)
1sturgeon
2Acipenser sturio
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鲟

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

Podcast: 鲟

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Podcast: 鲟

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鲟

Quick Contrast

鲑 (guī, salmon) — use 鲟 (xún) for sturgeon specifically known for caviar, while 鲑 (guī) refers to salmon, a different type of fish.

Usage Notes

Learners might confuse 鲟 with other fish names due to similar pronunciations. It is primarily used in formal contexts, such as menus or discussions about aquaculture. Be cautious with the tone; the correct pronunciation is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.

HSK Study Tips

As this word is not included in the HSK levels, students should focus on its specific context in seafood-related vocabulary. Connecting it to other fish characters can enhance understanding, such as 鱼 (yú) for fish in general.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 鲟 with similar-sounding fish names or use it incorrectly in casual conversations. For example, saying '我喜欢吃鲟' (I like to eat sturgeon) might be correct but less common; it's more appropriate in formal or culinary contexts.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲟

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Etymology of 鲟

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 寻 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鱘.

Memory Hint

fish

Semantic (meaning)鱼
+
Phonetic (sound)寻
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鲟

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 寻 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鱘.

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half寻 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鲟? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鲟?

Decomposition of 鲟

IDS Structure⿰鱼寻
鲟Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
寻xun2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鲟?

How to say sturgeon in Chinese

“sturgeon” in Chinese is鲟xún

The character 鲟 (xún) refers specifically to the sturgeon, a type of fish known for its caviar and long lifespan. It is commonly used in discussions about seafood, aquaculture, and culinary traditions in China, especially in relation to luxury dining and gourmet dishes.

When to use 鲟

Learners might confuse 鲟 with other fish names due to similar pronunciations. It is primarily used in formal contexts, such as menus or discussions about aquaculture. Be cautious with the tone; the correct pronunciation is crucial to avoid misunderstandings.

鲟 or something close to it

鲑 (guī, salmon) — use 鲟 (xún) for sturgeon specifically known for caviar, while 鲑 (guī) refers to salmon, a different type of fish.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 鲟 with similar-sounding fish names or use it incorrectly in casual conversations. For example, saying '我喜欢吃鲟' (I like to eat sturgeon) might be correct but less common; it's more appropriate in formal or culinary contexts.

Write 鲟

鲟

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鲟

Words Containing This Character2
鲟xúnsturgeon鱘
鲟鱼sturgeon鱘魚
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鲟 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鲟

No, 鲟 is more specific to culinary contexts and discussions about seafood.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鲟?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.