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鮪 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鮪wěilittle tuna; Euthynnus alletteratusx, 17 strokes, radical 魚
wěi(wei3)wei T3
  1. 1little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
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March 24, 2026

鮪wěi(wei3)

鮪 (wěi) refers specifically to the little tuna, a type of fish belonging to the Euthynnus genus. It is often found in various culinary contexts, especially in seafood dishes and sushi. In Chinese cuisine, it holds significance due to its popularity and nutritional value.

Strokes17Radical魚
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, fish symbolizes abundance and prosperity, especially during celebrations like the Lunar New Year. 鮪 is often featured in festive meals, highlighting its importance in both culinary and cultural contexts.

Memory tip

Think of 鮪 (wěi) as a 'wee' fish with a 'tuna' twist. The character features the radical 魚 (yú), meaning fish, which can be visualized as a swimming fish, while the sound 'wěi' can be imagined as a fish swimming in waves, creating a playful connection to its meaning.

Meanings of 鮪

wěi(wei3)
1little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鮪

鮪Simplified
17Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鮪

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Podcast: 鮪

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AI Study Notes for 鮪

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 鮪 with similar fish names. It is used primarily in culinary contexts, often in restaurants or when discussing seafood. Ensure you pronounce the third tone correctly, as mispronouncing it might lead to confusion with other fish names.

HSK Study Tips

Although 鮪 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it’s useful for learners interested in food-related terms. Students should focus on related vocabulary around seafood and culinary practices, enhancing their practical language skills.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 鮪 with other fish names like 鮭 (guī, salmon) or 鰹 (jiān, bonito). It's important to remember that 鮪 specifically refers to the little tuna and not to those other types.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鮪

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Etymology of 鮪

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 有 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鮪.

Memory hint

fish

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

Origin

鮪 = 魚 + 有. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鮪

IDS Structure⿰魚有
鮪Full character
=
魚yu2
left
有you3
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鮪?

How to say little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus in Chinese

“little tuna; Euthynnus alletteratus” in Chinese is鮪wěi

鮪 (wěi) refers specifically to the little tuna, a type of fish belonging to the Euthynnus genus. It is often found in various culinary contexts, especially in seafood dishes and sushi. In Chinese cuisine, it holds significance due to its popularity and nutritional value.

When to use 鮪

Be careful not to confuse 鮪 with similar fish names. It is used primarily in culinary contexts, often in restaurants or when discussing seafood. Ensure you pronounce the third tone correctly, as mispronouncing it might lead to confusion with other fish names.

What learners get wrong

Learners sometimes confuse 鮪 with other fish names like 鮭 (guī, salmon) or 鰹 (jiān, bonito). It's important to remember that 鮪 specifically refers to the little tuna and not to those other types.

Write 鮪

鮪

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

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Word Family of 鮪

Words containing this character2
鲔wěilittle tuna鮪
鲔鱼tuna鮪魚
Exercise 1 of 2

Characters with 鮪

What does 鲔 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鮪

鮪 is often used in sushi, sashimi, and various seafood dishes, celebrated for its rich flavor.

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