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鳋 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳋sāocarpzg, 17 strokes, radical 鱼
sāo(sao1)sao T1
  1. 1carp
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March 24, 2026

鳋sāo(sao1)

The character 鳋 (sāo) refers specifically to a type of carp. This term is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to general terms for fish, but it can appear in discussions about aquaculture or culinary contexts. Understanding this character can enhance your vocabulary related to aquatic life.

Strokes17Radical鱼
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, carp are often associated with perseverance and strength, as they are celebrated in festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival. The image of a carp swimming upstream symbolizes determination.

Memory tip

Imagine a 'sea' (sounds like 'sāo') where a 'carp' swims gracefully. The character 鳋 has the fish radical 魚 (yú) at the bottom, reminding you that it’s related to fish, while the top part resembles waves, suggesting water.

Meanings of 鳋

sāo(sao1)
1carp
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鳋

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

Podcast: 鳋

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Podcast: 鳋

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AI study notes for 鳋

Usage Notes

While 鳋 is technically correct for referring to this type of carp, most speakers might use the more general term 鱼 (yú) for fish. Be cautious with tone as it is pronounced with a high-level tone (sāo), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is rarely used in formal settings.

HSK Study Tips

Since 鳋 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners should focus on related words at their level, especially those connected to aquatic life, like 鱼 (yú). Familiarize yourself with the fish radical to help recognize similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳋 with the more general 鱼, using it in contexts where a broader term is appropriate. For instance, saying '我喜欢鳋' (I like carp) might sound overly specific; '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) is more natural.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳋

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Etymology of 鳋

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

fish

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

Origin

鳋 = 鱼 + 蚤. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鳋

IDS Structure⿰鱼蚤
鳋Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
蚤zao3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鳋?

How to say carp in Chinese

“carp” in Chinese is鳋sāo

The character 鳋 (sāo) refers specifically to a type of carp. This term is less commonly used in everyday conversation compared to general terms for fish, but it can appear in discussions about aquaculture or culinary contexts. Understanding this character can enhance your vocabulary related to aquatic life.

When to use 鳋

While 鳋 is technically correct for referring to this type of carp, most speakers might use the more general term 鱼 (yú) for fish. Be cautious with tone as it is pronounced with a high-level tone (sāo), which can be confused with other similar-sounding words. It is rarely used in formal settings.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳋 with the more general 鱼, using it in contexts where a broader term is appropriate. For instance, saying '我喜欢鳋' (I like carp) might sound overly specific; '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) is more natural.

Write 鳋

鳋

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

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Frequently asked questions about 鳋

It is pronounced as 'sāo' with a high-level tone.

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