Skip to content
Stroke order, etymology and audio for every word.Start learning
鲡 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲡líeelx, 15 strokes, radical 鱼
lí(li2)li T2
  1. 1eel
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鲡(鱺)lí(li2)

The character 鲡 (lí) refers specifically to an eel, a type of long, snake-like fish commonly found in both freshwater and saltwater. Eels are often used in various cuisines, particularly in Asian dishes, and can symbolize resilience and adaptability in Chinese culture.

Strokes15Radical鱼
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, eel is often seen as a delicacy and is associated with health benefits, particularly during the summer months when it's traditionally consumed to replenish energy lost through sweat. Some regions have specific dishes like grilled eel (鳗鱼) that are popular.

Memory tip

Imagine an eel (鲡) swimming swiftly in a river. The character has a fish radical (鱼) on the left, indicating it's a type of fish, while the right part sounds like 'li', reminiscent of the slippery, sleek movement of an eel as it glides through the water.

Meanings of 鲡

lí(li2)
1eel
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 鲡 means.

About 鲡

鲡Simplified
鱺Traditional
15Strokes
鱼Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鲡

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鲡

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI study notes for 鲡

Usage Notes

When using 鲡, it is important to be clear that it refers specifically to eels, as there are many types of fish in Chinese. Common collocations include '吃鲡' (to eat eel) and '鲡鱼汤' (eel soup). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words, especially in tonal pronunciation.

HSK Study Tips

Although not included in the HSK levels, understanding 鲡 can enhance vocabulary related to food and aquatic life. Learners should focus on the fish radical and other related vocabulary such as 鱼 (fish) and 鳗 (mullet), which share similar contexts.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鲡 with other fish characters due to similar sounds or radicals. For example, saying '鲡鱼' instead of simply '鲡' can be redundant, as 鲡 already indicates a type of fish.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲡

Premium — Locked

Tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 鲡, say it back, see your pitch against the model voice, and earn XP towards mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsPitch drawing+5 XP
Get Pro to unlock

Jason Explains 鲡 to you

Let me explain 鲡 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 鲡 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

How well do you know 鲡?

Example

Learning Lab

Knowing 鲡 is seven skills, not one.

Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.

  • MeaningFree
  • CharacterFree
  • PinyinFree
  • TonePro
  • ListeningPro
  • SpeakingPro
  • WritingPro
See the Learning Lab Three facets free · no card needed

Etymology of 鲡

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

fish

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

Origin

鲡 = 鱼 + 丽. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鲡

IDS Structure⿰鱼丽
鲡Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
丽Li2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鲡?

How to say eel in Chinese

“eel” in Chinese is鲡lí

The character 鲡 (lí) refers specifically to an eel, a type of long, snake-like fish commonly found in both freshwater and saltwater. Eels are often used in various cuisines, particularly in Asian dishes, and can symbolize resilience and adaptability in Chinese culture.

When to use 鲡

When using 鲡, it is important to be clear that it refers specifically to eels, as there are many types of fish in Chinese. Common collocations include '吃鲡' (to eat eel) and '鲡鱼汤' (eel soup). Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words, especially in tonal pronunciation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鲡 with other fish characters due to similar sounds or radicals. For example, saying '鲡鱼' instead of simply '鲡' can be redundant, as 鲡 already indicates a type of fish.

Write 鲡

鲡

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 鲡?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 200 AI credits.

Word Family of 鲡

Words containing this character2
鳗鲡eel鰻鱺
鲡líeel鱺
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 鲡

What does 鳗鲡 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鲡

It is pronounced as 'lí', with a rising tone.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鲡?

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.

A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.

See the Learning Lab