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鳐 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳐yáothe nautilus; the rayg, 18 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #49928, Very Hard
鳐yáoskate (cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae)unknown, 18 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #49928, Very Hard
鳐yáoray (fish)unknown, 18 strokes, radical 鱼, rank #49928, Very Hard
yáo(yao2)yao T2
  1. 1the nautilus; the ray
  2. 2skate (cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae)
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March 24, 2026

鳐(鰩)yáo(yao2)

The character 鳐 (yáo) refers to a type of cartilaginous fish, particularly the ray or skate, which are known for their flattened bodies and wing-like pectoral fins. In a broader sense, it can also refer to the nautilus, a marine mollusk. This character is commonly used in discussions related to marine biology and aquatic life.

Strokes18Radical鱼Frequency#49928DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

Rays are often featured in Chinese marine culture and cuisine, particularly in coastal regions where seafood is a staple. The appreciation for such aquatic animals reflects the importance of the sea in Chinese traditions and lifestyles.

Memory tip

Imagine a ray (like a flying fish) gliding through the water with its wings spread wide. The character 鳐 has the 'fish' radical 魚 (yú) at the bottom, reminding you that it is a type of fish. The pronunciation 'yáo' sounds like 'yowl,' which you might do when you see a stunning ray in the ocean.

Meanings of 鳐

yáo(yao2)
1the nautilus; the ray
2skate (cartilaginous fish belonging to the family Rajidae)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 鳐

鳐Simplified
鰩Traditional
18Strokes
鱼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 鳐

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AI study notes for 鳐

Usage Notes

A common mistake with 鳐 is confusing it with similar characters for other fish, such as 鮪 (tuna). This character is more often used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or literature. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it; 'yáo' has a rising tone, which is crucial for correct understanding.

HSK Study Tips

While 鳐 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it can be connected to HSK Level 4 and above vocabulary related to animals and nature. Learners should focus on understanding its context in marine biology terms and practice differentiating it from similar characters.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce 鳐 by confusing it with similar-sounding words, such as 腰 (yāo) meaning 'waist'. To correct this, focus on the rising tone of 鳐 (yáo) and practice distinguishing these two characters.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳐

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Etymology of 鳐

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

fish

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

Origin

鳐 = 鱼 + 䍃. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鳐

IDS Structure⿰鱼䍃
鳐Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
䍃you2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鳐?

How to say the nautilus; the ray in Chinese

“the nautilus; the ray” in Chinese is鳐yáo

The character 鳐 (yáo) refers to a type of cartilaginous fish, particularly the ray or skate, which are known for their flattened bodies and wing-like pectoral fins. In a broader sense, it can also refer to the nautilus, a marine mollusk. This character is commonly used in discussions related to marine biology and aquatic life.

When to use 鳐

A common mistake with 鳐 is confusing it with similar characters for other fish, such as 鮪 (tuna). This character is more often used in formal contexts, such as scientific discussions or literature. Be mindful of the tone when pronouncing it; 'yáo' has a rising tone, which is crucial for correct understanding.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce 鳐 by confusing it with similar-sounding words, such as 腰 (yāo) meaning 'waist'. To correct this, focus on the rising tone of 鳐 (yáo) and practice distinguishing these two characters.

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鳐

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Word Family of 鳐

Words containing this character1
鳐yáoray (fish)鰩

Frequently asked questions about 鳐

In English, 鳐 can be referred to as a ray or skate, both of which are types of flat-bodied fish.

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