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魷 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
魷yóucuttlefishx, 15 strokes, radical 魚
yóu(you2)you T2
  1. 1cuttlefish
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March 24, 2026

魷yóu(you2)

The character 魷 (yóu) refers specifically to cuttlefish, a type of cephalopod mollusk closely related to squids and octopuses. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in Chinese cuisine, where cuttlefish is valued for its unique texture and flavor.

Strokes15Radical魚
Cultural note

In Chinese cuisine, 魷 is often featured in dishes like stir-fries and soups, particularly in coastal regions where seafood is a staple. It is also used in traditional festivals and celebrations, showcasing its importance in Chinese culinary culture.

Memory tip

Think of 魷 as a 'yoyo' (yóu sounds similar) that dives into the ocean. The radical 魚 (fish) indicates its aquatic nature, while the rest of the character suggests its unique shape, reminiscent of a yoyo spinning in water.

Meanings of 魷

yóu(you2)
1cuttlefish
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 魷

魷Simplified
15Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 魷

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Podcast: 魷

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AI Study Notes for 魷

Quick Contrast

墨鱼 (mò yú, squid) - 魷 specifically refers to cuttlefish, while 墨鱼 refers to squid, which is a different type of cephalopod.

Usage Notes

When discussing 魷, it’s important to use the correct tone (second tone). Common collocations include 魷魚 (yóu yú), meaning 'cuttlefish' or 'squid' in a more general sense. Avoid confusing it with similar characters like 魚 (yú) which means 'fish'.

HSK Study Tips

Although 魷 is not part of the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to HSK level 4 food-related vocabulary. Students should focus on contextual usage in culinary conversations and learn related terms like 魚 (fish) and 蛋 (egg) for broader discussions on seafood.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 魷 with 魚 due to their similar appearances. For example, saying 魚 (yú) instead of 魷 (yóu) when ordering seafood could lead to misunderstandings about what dish you want.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 魷

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Etymology of 魷

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 尤 represents the sound. Simplified form of 魷.

Memory hint

fish

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

Origin

魷 = 魚 + 尤. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 魷

IDS Structure⿰魚尤
魷Full character
=
魚yu2
left
尤You2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 魷?

How to say cuttlefish in Chinese

“cuttlefish” in Chinese is魷yóu

The character 魷 (yóu) refers specifically to cuttlefish, a type of cephalopod mollusk closely related to squids and octopuses. It is commonly used in culinary contexts, especially in Chinese cuisine, where cuttlefish is valued for its unique texture and flavor.

When to use 魷

When discussing 魷, it’s important to use the correct tone (second tone). Common collocations include 魷魚 (yóu yú), meaning 'cuttlefish' or 'squid' in a more general sense. Avoid confusing it with similar characters like 魚 (yú) which means 'fish'.

魷 or something close to it

墨鱼 (mò yú, squid) - 魷 specifically refers to cuttlefish, while 墨鱼 refers to squid, which is a different type of cephalopod.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 魷 with 魚 due to their similar appearances. For example, saying 魚 (yú) instead of 魷 (yóu) when ordering seafood could lead to misunderstandings about what dish you want.

Write 魷

魷

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

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Word Family of 魷

Words containing this character3
鱿鱼squid魷魚
鱿yóucuttlefish魷
炒鱿鱼to sack sb炒魷魚
Exercise 1 of 3

Words with 魷

What does 鱿鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 魷

魷 refers specifically to cuttlefish, while 魚 is a more general term for fish.

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