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鳀 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳀tíanchovyzg, 17 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #43590, Very Hard
tí(ti2)ti T2
  1. 1anchovy
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March 24, 2026

鳀(鯷)tí(ti2)

The character 鳀 (tí) refers specifically to anchovies, a small fish commonly used in various culinary dishes. In Chinese cuisine, anchovies can be found in soups and sauces, providing a rich umami flavor. This term is mainly used in food contexts, particularly when discussing seafood.

Strokes17Radical鱼Frequency#43590DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, anchovies are often used in stocks and broths, highlighting the importance of umami flavors in traditional cooking. This reflects the broader Chinese culinary philosophy of balancing flavors and enhancing dishes.

Memory tip

Imagine a tiny fish swimming in the ocean, and think of the sound 'tí' as a fish's playful splash. The character 鳀 contains the radical 魚 (yú), which means 'fish,' emphasizing its connection to aquatic life.

Meanings of 鳀

tí(ti2)
1anchovy
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鳀

鳀Simplified
鯷Traditional
17Strokes
鱼Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳀

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Podcast: 鳀

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AI study notes for 鳀

Quick Contrast

鳗 (mán, eel) - choose 鳀 (tí) when specifically referring to anchovies, while 鳗 (mán) denotes a different type of fish.

Usage Notes

Although 鳀 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it is important in culinary contexts. Learners should be cautious with tones, as mispronouncing 'tí' can lead to confusion with other words. Common collocations include 鳀鱼 (tí yú), meaning 'anchovy fish.'

HSK Study Tips

While 鳀 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, understanding food-related words is essential for practical language use. Students should focus on food vocabulary at this level to navigate dining situations effectively.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳀 (anchovy) with similar characters for different fish, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 鳀 when referring to 鮭 (guī), which means 'salmon,' is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳀

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Etymology of 鳀

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

fish

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

Origin

鳀 = 鱼 + 是. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鳀

IDS Structure⿰鱼是
鳀Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
是shi4
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鳀?

How to say anchovy in Chinese

“anchovy” in Chinese is鳀tí

The character 鳀 (tí) refers specifically to anchovies, a small fish commonly used in various culinary dishes. In Chinese cuisine, anchovies can be found in soups and sauces, providing a rich umami flavor. This term is mainly used in food contexts, particularly when discussing seafood.

When to use 鳀

Although 鳀 is not commonly used in everyday conversation, it is important in culinary contexts. Learners should be cautious with tones, as mispronouncing 'tí' can lead to confusion with other words. Common collocations include 鳀鱼 (tí yú), meaning 'anchovy fish.'

鳀 or something close to it

鳗 (mán, eel) - choose 鳀 (tí) when specifically referring to anchovies, while 鳗 (mán) denotes a different type of fish.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳀 (anchovy) with similar characters for different fish, leading to incorrect usage. For example, using 鳀 when referring to 鮭 (guī), which means 'salmon,' is a common error.

Write 鳀

鳀

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

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Grammar patterns of 鳀

鳀 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Exercise 1 of 2

Fill the gap

Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.

奶酪____鱼比萨饼

a pizza topped with cheese and anchovies

Example sentences for 鳀 (1)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
奶酪鳀鱼比萨饼

nǎilào tí yú bǐ sà bǐng

a pizza topped with cheese and anchovies
Exercise 1 of 1

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Rebuild it: “a pizza topped with cheese and anchovies”

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Word Family of 鳀

Words containing this character1
鳀tíanchovy鯷

Frequently asked questions about 鳀

鳀 is commonly used in soups and sauces to enhance flavor with its rich umami taste.

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