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March 24, 2026
釣diào(diao4)
The character 釣 (diào) primarily means 'to fish' or 'to lure', often referring to the act of fishing with a hook. It can also denote the fishing hook itself, emphasizing the tools used in the activity. This character is commonly used in contexts related to fishing, leisure activities, and sometimes metaphorically in discussions about attracting or enticing someone or something.
Strokes11Radical釒Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
Fishing is a popular pastime in many regions of China, often associated with relaxation and social gatherings. The character 釣 reflects this cultural significance, as well as traditional fishing techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person holding a fishing rod with a shiny hook (釣) at the end, luring fish to the bait. The top part of the character resembles a hook, which can help you remember that it relates to fishing while the pronunciation 'diào' sounds like 'dial', as fishermen dial in the right spot to catch fish.
Meanings of 釣
diào(diao4)
1fishhook; to fish, to lure
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 釣
釣Simplified
11Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 釣
Podcast: 釣
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AI Study Notes for 釣
Quick Contrast
钓 (diào) - specifically refers to fishing with a hook, while 釣 (diào) can also denote the fishing hook itself.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person holding a fishing rod with a shiny hook (釣) at the end, luring fish to the bait. The top part of the character resembles a hook, which can help you remember that it relates to fishing while the pronunciation 'diào' sounds like 'dial', as fishermen dial in the right spot to catch fish.
Usage Notes
When using 釣, be careful with the tone; it is pronounced with a falling tone (diào). Common mistakes include confusing it with similar-sounding words, particularly those that might have a different meaning, like '调' (tiáo), which means 'to adjust'. Use 釣 in informal contexts related to fishing or leisure.
HSK Study Tips
Although 釣 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it relates to HSK Level 3 words like '鱼' (yú - fish) and '水' (shuǐ - water). Students should focus on contextual phrases involving fishing and practice using it in sentences to solidify understanding.
Cultural Note
Fishing is a popular pastime in many regions of China, often associated with relaxation and social gatherings. The character 釣 reflects this cultural significance, as well as traditional fishing techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 釣 with the character 调 (tiáo), which means 'to adjust'. For example, saying '我去调鱼' (I go adjust fish) instead of '我去钓鱼' (I go fishing) is incorrect. Always remember that 釣 specifically relates to fishing.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 釣
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Cultural Notes for 釣
🏮Cultural insight
Fishing is a popular pastime in many regions of China, often associated with relaxation and social gatherings. The character 釣 reflects this cultural significance, as well as traditional fishing techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Word Family of 釣
Words Containing This Character11
钓diàoto fish with a hook and bait釣
钓鱼diàoyúto dupe釣魚
钓鱼岛Diaoyu Islands釣魚島
钓鱼台Diaoyu or Senkaku Islands between Taiwan and Okinawa (administered by Japan), also known as the Pinnacle Islands釣魚臺
沽名钓誉gūmíngdiàoyùto angle for fame (idiom)沽名釣譽
钓具fishing tackle釣具
钓竿fishing rod釣竿
钓钩fishhook釣鉤
垂钓angling垂釣
放长线钓大鱼use a long line to catch a big fish (idiom); a long-term plan for major returns放長線釣大魚
钓鱼者angler釣魚者
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 钓 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 釣
It is pronounced 'diào', with a falling tone.
Yes, it can be used to describe attracting or luring someone or something, not just in a fishing context.
釣 (diào) refers to the act of fishing or the fishing hook, while 鱼 (yú) means fish.
