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March 24, 2026
鲤(鯉)lǐ(li3)
The character 鲤 (lǐ) refers specifically to a type of freshwater fish known as carp. In Chinese culture, carp are often associated with perseverance and strength, symbolizing success and prosperity, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival and in traditional Chinese paintings.
Strokes15Radical鱼Frequency#26934DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese mythology, the carp is often depicted as a symbol of determination, as it is said to swim upstream against strong currents, eventually transforming into a dragon. This cultural significance makes it a frequent motif in art and festivals.
Memory Tip
To remember 鲤 (lǐ), picture a 'li'ttle carp swimming in a river. The left part '鱼' represents fish, and the right part '里' sounds like 'li', which can remind you of 'little'. Imagine a little carp that grows big and strong, embodying the spirit of success.
Meanings of 鲤
lǐ(li3)
1carp
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 鲤
鲤Simplified
鯉Traditional
15Strokes
鱼Radical
其它专名míngcíproper noun (pr.n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 鲤
Podcast: 鲤
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AI Study Notes for 鲤
Quick Contrast
鲤 (lǐ) vs 鳕 (xuě) — choose 鲤 when referring specifically to carp, while 鳕 refers to cod, a different type of fish.
Memory Mnemonic
To remember 鲤 (lǐ), picture a 'li'ttle carp swimming in a river. The left part '鱼' represents fish, and the right part '里' sounds like 'li', which can remind you of 'little'. Imagine a little carp that grows big and strong, embodying the spirit of success.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 鲤 (lǐ) with similar sounding characters. It is commonly used in culinary contexts or cultural references. Be mindful of the tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning significantly. For example, lǐ (鲤) vs. lì (利).
HSK Study Tips
While 鲤 (lǐ) is not on the HSK list, it connects well with other aquatic-related vocabulary and can enhance your understanding of cultural contexts in Level 3-4 words. Focus on related terms like 鱼 (yú, fish) and 水 (shuǐ, water) to build a broader vocabulary.
Cultural Note
In Chinese mythology, the carp is often depicted as a symbol of determination, as it is said to swim upstream against strong currents, eventually transforming into a dragon. This cultural significance makes it a frequent motif in art and festivals.
Common Mistakes
Learners may confuse 鲤 (lǐ) with other fish-related characters like 鱼 (yú). For instance, saying '我喜欢鱼' (wǒ xǐhuān yú, I like fish) when speaking specifically about carp can be incorrect if you mean to emphasize 鲤. Correct usage would be '我喜欢鲤' (wǒ xǐhuān lǐ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 鲤
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Grammar Patterns of 鲤
鲤 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
池子里的红____鱼泼剌一响.
A carp splashed in the pond.
Example Sentences for 鲤 (19)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
池子里的红鲤鱼泼剌一响.
chí zǐ lǐ de hóng lǐ yú pō là yī xiǎng.
A carp splashed in the pond.
2
河里有很多鲤鱼。
Hé lǐ yǒu hěn duō lǐ yú.
There are many carp in the river.
3
我喜欢看鲤鱼游泳。
Wǒ xǐhuān kàn lǐ yú yóuyǒng.
I like watching carp swim.
4
爷爷在池塘里养了几条鲤鱼。
Yéye zài chítáng lǐ yǎng le jǐ tiáo lǐ yú.
Grandpa has raised a few carp in the pond.
5
我们在公园看到了一条大鲤鱼。
Wǒmen zài gōngyuán kàn dào le yī tiáo dà lǐ yú.
We saw a big carp in the park.
6
湖里有一条漂亮的鲤鱼。
Hú lǐ yǒu yī tiáo piàoliang de lǐyú.
There is a beautiful carp in the lake.
7
妈妈在市场买了一条鲤鱼。
Māma zài shìchǎng mǎi le yī tiáo lǐyú.
Mom bought a carp at the market.
8
小明的爸爸在河边钓到了一条大鲤鱼。
Xiǎo Míng de bàba zài hé biān diàodào le yī tiáo dà lǐyú.
Xiao Ming's dad caught a big carp by the river.
9
我们去水族馆看各种颜色的鲤鱼。
Wǒmen qù shuǐzúguǎn kàn gè zhǒng yánsè de lǐyú.
We went to the aquarium to see carp of various colors.
10
这道菜用的是新鲜的鲤鱼。
Zhè dào cài yòng de shì xīnxiān de lǐyú.
This dish is made with fresh carp.
11
河里有很多鲤鱼。
Hé lǐ yǒu hěn duō lǐ yú.
There are many carp in the river.
12
我喜欢看鲤鱼游泳。
Wǒ xǐhuān kàn lǐ yú yóuyǒng.
I like watching carp swim.
13
爷爷在池塘里养了几条鲤鱼。
Yéye zài chítáng lǐ yǎng le jǐ tiáo lǐ yú.
Grandpa has raised a few carp in the pond.
14
我们在公园看到了一条大鲤鱼。
Wǒmen zài gōngyuán kàn dào le yī tiáo dà lǐ yú.
We saw a big carp in the park.
15
湖里有一条漂亮的鲤鱼。
Hú lǐ yǒu yī tiáo piàoliang de lǐyú.
There is a beautiful carp in the lake.
16
妈妈在市场买了一条鲤鱼。
Māma zài shìchǎng mǎi le yī tiáo lǐyú.
Mom bought a carp at the market.
17
小明的爸爸在河边钓到了一条大鲤鱼。
Xiǎo Míng de bàba zài hé biān diàodào le yī tiáo dà lǐyú.
Xiao Ming's dad caught a big carp by the river.
18
我们去水族馆看各种颜色的鲤鱼。
Wǒmen qù shuǐzúguǎn kàn gè zhǒng yánsè de lǐyú.
We went to the aquarium to see carp of various colors.
19
这道菜用的是新鲜的鲤鱼。
Zhè dào cài yòng de shì xīnxiān de lǐyú.
This dish is made with fresh carp.
Cultural Notes for 鲤
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese mythology, the carp is often depicted as a symbol of determination, as it is said to swim upstream against strong currents, eventually transforming into a dragon. This cultural significance makes it a frequent motif in art and festivals.
Word Family of 鲤
Words Containing This Character5
鲤鱼carp鯉魚
鲤lǐcarp鯉
鲤城区Licheng district of Quanzhou city 泉州市[Quánzhōushì], Fujian鯉城區
鲤鱼跳龙门to get one's big break鯉魚跳龍門
鲮鲤scaly ant-eater鯪鯉
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 鲤鱼 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鲤
Carp symbolize perseverance and success, especially during the Dragon Boat Festival.
鲤 is commonly used to refer to carp dishes, which are popular in various regional cuisines.
Yes, other characters include 鱼 (yú), which is the general term for fish.
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