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鳢 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鳢lǐsnakeheadg, 21 strokes, radical 鱼
鳢lǐsnakefishunknown, 21 strokes, radical 鱼
鳢lǐsnakehead mulletunknown, 21 strokes, radical 鱼
lǐ(li3)li T3
  1. 1snakehead
  2. 2snakefish
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March 24, 2026

鳢(鱧)lǐ(li3)

The character 鳢 (lǐ) refers to a type of fish known as the snakehead or snakehead mullet. This fish is characterized by its elongated body and predatory nature, commonly found in freshwater environments. It is often discussed in culinary contexts and is known for its unique taste in various regional dishes.

Strokes21Radical鱼
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, fish like 鳢 are often celebrated for their flavor and are used in traditional dishes, especially in southern regions where freshwater fishing is prevalent. Festivals and family gatherings may feature snakehead fish as a delicacy.

Memory tip

Imagine a snake (the 'snake' in snakehead) swimming through the water, its long, slim body resembling the shape of the character 鳢. The top part of the character resembles a fish swimming, while the bottom part suggests its serpentine nature, helping you remember both the sound 'lǐ' and its meaning.

Meanings of 鳢

lǐ(li3)
1snakehead
2snakefish
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鳢

鳢Simplified
鱧Traditional
21Strokes
鱼Radical
语素morpheme (morph.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鳢

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Podcast: 鳢

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AI study notes for 鳢

Usage Notes

When using 鳢 in conversation, be aware that it is more common in culinary discussions rather than everyday speech. A mistake learners often make is confusing 鳢 with similar fish names; ensure you understand its context to avoid mix-ups. It's worth noting that this word is more formal and specific, often appearing in written texts or menus.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鳢 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary lists, it is beneficial for students interested in culinary terms or aquatic life. Connecting it to other food-related vocabulary can enhance your understanding of regional cuisines and ecological discussions in Mandarin.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鳢 with 鱼 (yú) which means 'fish' in general. For example, saying '我喜欢鳢' instead of '我喜欢鳢鱼' (I like snakehead fish) omits the specific reference to the type of fish.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鳢

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Etymology of 鳢

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

fish

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

Origin

鳢 = 鱼 + 豊. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鳢

IDS Structure⿰鱼豊
鳢Full character
=
鱼Yu2
left
豊feng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鳢?

How to say snakehead in Chinese

“snakehead” in Chinese is鳢lǐ

The character 鳢 (lǐ) refers to a type of fish known as the snakehead or snakehead mullet. This fish is characterized by its elongated body and predatory nature, commonly found in freshwater environments. It is often discussed in culinary contexts and is known for its unique taste in various regional dishes.

When to use 鳢

When using 鳢 in conversation, be aware that it is more common in culinary discussions rather than everyday speech. A mistake learners often make is confusing 鳢 with similar fish names; ensure you understand its context to avoid mix-ups. It's worth noting that this word is more formal and specific, often appearing in written texts or menus.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鳢 with 鱼 (yú) which means 'fish' in general. For example, saying '我喜欢鳢' instead of '我喜欢鳢鱼' (I like snakehead fish) omits the specific reference to the type of fish.

Write 鳢

鳢

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

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Word Family of 鳢

Words containing this character2
乌鳢Channa argus烏鱧
鳢lǐsnakefish鱧
Exercise 1 of 1

Words with 鳢

What does 乌鳢 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鳢

You can say '我喜欢吃鳢鱼' (I like to eat snakehead fish) when discussing preferences.

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