Meanings of 鲠
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About 鲠
Podcast: 鲠
Podcast: 鲠
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AI Study Notes for 鲠
诚 (chéng, honest) — use 鲠 (gěng) when emphasizing bluntness or unyielding manner, not just honesty.
Imagine a person struggling to swallow a fish bone (鲠) while trying to stay upright and honest about their feelings. The sharpness of the bone represents the blunt honesty that can sometimes be difficult to digest.
Be cautious when using 鲠 in conversation, as it can have both a literal and metaphorical meaning. It is generally more informal, so it might not be suitable in formal writing. Common collocations include '鲠在喉' (gěng zài hóu), meaning 'a fish bone stuck in the throat,' which describes a feeling of discomfort or obstruction.
While 鲠 isn't included in the HSK levels, understanding it can enhance your vocabulary related to food and honesty. It connects to other characters like 鱼 (yú, fish) and 直 (zhí, straight) that may appear in HSK materials. Focus on pronunciation and context to grasp its full meaning.
In Chinese culture, the idea of being blunt or honest (as in 鲠) is often valued, but it can also lead to social friction if not delivered tactfully. The concept of '直言不讳' (zhí yán bù huì), meaning to speak frankly, often relates to this character.
Learners often confuse 鲠 with other similar sounding characters like 更 (gèng), which means 'more.' For example, saying '我觉得他很更' instead of '我觉得他很鲠' to express that someone is blunt is incorrect.
Pronunciation of 鲠
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Etymology of 鲠
fish
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 鲠?
Decomposition of 鲠
Identify the Components
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Write 鲠
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Practice writing 鲠 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 鲠
鲠 functions as an adjective. In Chinese it behaves like a stative verb: place it directly after the subject without 是 (我很高，not 我是高). Use 不 to negate (不高) and pair it with 很 in plain affirmative sentences. It carries 3 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
骨____在喉,一吐方快.
I feel suffocated if I don't speak out.
Example Sentences for 鲠 (1)
Reorder the Sentence
I feel suffocated if I don't speak out.
Cultural Notes for 鲠
In Chinese culture, the idea of being blunt or honest (as in 鲠) is often valued, but it can also lead to social friction if not delivered tactfully. The concept of '直言不讳' (zhí yán bù huì), meaning to speak frankly, often relates to this character.
Word Family of 鲠
Compound Meaning
What does 鲠 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鲠
It is pronounced as 'gěng' with a falling-rising tone.