Meanings of 鳃
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About 鳃
Podcast: 鳃
Podcast: 鳃
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AI Study Notes for 鳃
鳍 (qí) - choose 鳃 when referring specifically to gills, while 鳍 refers to fins.
Imagine a fish swimming gracefully, its gills (鳃) flaring open as it breathes. The top part of the character 鳃 resembles the outline of a fish, while the radical 鳥 (bird) suggests that it relates to living creatures, helping you remember that it refers to the gills of fish.
Be cautious when using this term, as it's specific to fish and not applicable to other animals. It's also more common in formal or scientific discussions rather than casual conversation about food. A common mistake is to confuse 鳃 with similar-sounding words that relate to other body parts.
Although 鳃 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it connects to Level 3 terms related to animals and biology. Focus on learning related vocabulary such as 鱼 (yú, fish) and 水 (shuǐ, water) to build a richer understanding of aquatic life.
Gills (鳃) are crucial in Chinese cuisine, especially when preparing fresh fish dishes. The freshness of the fish is often judged by the condition of its gills, which reflects the quality of seafood in markets and restaurants.
Learners often confuse 鳃 with similar-sounding characters like 塞 (sāi), which means 'to block'. Make sure to remember that 鳃 specifically relates to the gills of fish, not a blocking action.
Pronunciation of 鳃
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Etymology of 鳃
Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 思 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鰓.
fish
Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 鳃
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Write 鳃
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Grammar Patterns of 鳃
鳃 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). It carries 2 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
鱼类的____与陆上动物的肺类似.
The gills of fishes are analogous to the lungs in terrestrial animals.
Example Sentences for 鳃 (2)
Cultural Notes for 鳃
Gills (鳃) are crucial in Chinese cuisine, especially when preparing fresh fish dishes. The freshness of the fish is often judged by the condition of its gills, which reflects the quality of seafood in markets and restaurants.
Word Family of 鳃
Compound Meaning
What does 鳃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 鳃
Fish gills are not typically used in dishes, but they are important for assessing the freshness of fish in culinary contexts.