Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
鲥 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鲥shíReeves' shad; hilsa herringn, 15 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #70888, Very Hard
鲥shíshadunknown, 15 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #70888, Very Hard
鲥shíIlisha elongataunknown, 15 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #70888, Very Hard
shí(shi2) T2
  1. 1Reeves' shad; hilsa herring
  2. 2shad
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鲥(鰣)shí(shi2)

鲥 (shí) refers to a type of fish known as Reeves' shad or hilsa herring, which is found in East Asia. This fish is often prized for its taste and is commonly used in various culinary dishes, particularly in coastal regions where it is abundant. It holds significance in certain cultural and culinary contexts, especially during festivals and special occasions.

Strokes15Radical鱼Frequency#70888DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, fish like 鲥 are often associated with prosperity and abundance, making them a popular choice during celebratory meals such as the Lunar New Year. Specific preparation methods and dishes highlight the cultural significance of this fish.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef holding a shiny fish (鲥) that glimmers like a silver coin. The pronunciation 'shí' sounds like 'she' followed by a soft 'ee'—think of a chef saying 'She cooks fish!' This visual connection helps you remember both the character and its meaning.

Meanings of 鲥

shí(shi2)
1Reeves' shad; hilsa herring
2shad
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鲥

鲥Simplified
鰣Traditional
15Strokes
鱼Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鲥

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鲥

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鲥

Usage Notes

鲥 is typically used in more formal or culinary contexts, and learners should be mindful of its specific usage when discussing types of fish. A common mistake is confusing it with other fish names in Chinese, so pay attention to context and collocations like 鲥鱼 (shí yú) for 'shad fish.'

HSK Study Tips

Although 鲥 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can enrich your understanding of food-related terms. Focus on the character's components: 魚 (fish) signifies its meaning, and recognizing this radical can help you connect with other fish-related vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鲥 with similar fish names like 鮭 (guī) for salmon or 鱻 (xiān) for fresh fish. To avoid this, focus on the distinctive character components and remember that 鲥 specifically refers to shad.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鲥

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 鲥 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Etymology of 鲥

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

fish

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鲥

  1. 1The meaning half鱼 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half时 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 鲥? 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 鲥?

Decomposition of 鲥

IDS Structure⿰鱼时
鲥Full Character
=
鱼Yu2
left
时shi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鲥?

How to say Reeves' shad; hilsa herring in Chinese

“Reeves' shad; hilsa herring” in Chinese is鲥shí

鲥 (shí) refers to a type of fish known as Reeves' shad or hilsa herring, which is found in East Asia. This fish is often prized for its taste and is commonly used in various culinary dishes, particularly in coastal regions where it is abundant. It holds significance in certain cultural and culinary contexts, especially during festivals and special occasions.

When to use 鲥

鲥 is typically used in more formal or culinary contexts, and learners should be mindful of its specific usage when discussing types of fish. A common mistake is confusing it with other fish names in Chinese, so pay attention to context and collocations like 鲥鱼 (shí yú) for 'shad fish.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鲥 with similar fish names like 鮭 (guī) for salmon or 鱻 (xiān) for fresh fish. To avoid this, focus on the distinctive character components and remember that 鲥 specifically refers to shad.

Write 鲥

鲥

Practice writing 鲥 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 鲥

Words Containing This Character2
鲥鱼Reeves shad (Tenualosa reevesii)鰣魚
鲥shíshad鰣
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鲥鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鲥

鲥 has a delicate and slightly sweet flavor, often enjoyed grilled or steamed.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鲥?

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.