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鯤 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鯤kūnspawn; roe; fryx, 19 strokes, radical 魚
kūn(kun1) T1
  1. 1spawn; roe; fry
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鯤kūn(kun1)

The character 鯤 (kūn) refers to a mythical fish that is said to be large and powerful, often associated with the idea of transformation. In a more practical sense, it can also mean 'spawn,' 'roe,' or 'fry,' highlighting its connection to fish reproduction and growth stages. This word is often used in literary contexts or when discussing aquatic life.

Strokes19Radical魚
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, 鯤 is linked to the Daoist classic 'Zhuangzi,' where it symbolizes great transformation and the vastness of potential. This character exemplifies the deep connection Chinese literature has with nature and mythology.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gigantic fish, the 鯤 (kūn), swimming in the ocean, with its many offspring (roe) floating around it. The character consists of the radical 魚 (fish) at the bottom, emphasizing its connection to aquatic life, while the top part can be visualized as waves or water, reinforcing the idea of a powerful creature in the sea.

Meanings of 鯤

kūn(kun1)
1spawn; roe; fry
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鯤

鯤Simplified
19Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鯤

JasonAmy

Podcast: 鯤

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 鯤

Usage Notes

When using 鯤, be mindful of its literary tone; it's not commonly used in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with other fish-related terms like 鱼 (yú), which is more general. Remember that 鯤 specifically refers to a mythical fish, while 魚 refers to fish in general.

HSK Study Tips

While 鯤 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, understanding it can enhance your knowledge of literary texts containing aquatic themes. Students should focus on recognizing the radical 魚 (fish) in other characters, which will help them identify related words in the context of marine life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鯤 with 鱼 (yú), mistakenly using it in casual conversations about fish. For example, saying '我喜欢鯤' (I like kūn) instead of '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) is incorrect.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鯤

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Etymology of 鯤

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

fish

Semantic (meaning)魚
+
Phonetic (sound)昆
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鯤

  1. 1The meaning half魚 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half昆 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawayfish
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 鯤? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 鯤?

Decomposition of 鯤

IDS Structure⿰魚昆
鯤Full Character
=
魚yu2
left
昆kun1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鯤?

How to say spawn; roe; fry in Chinese

“spawn; roe; fry” in Chinese is鯤kūn

The character 鯤 (kūn) refers to a mythical fish that is said to be large and powerful, often associated with the idea of transformation. In a more practical sense, it can also mean 'spawn,' 'roe,' or 'fry,' highlighting its connection to fish reproduction and growth stages. This word is often used in literary contexts or when discussing aquatic life.

When to use 鯤

When using 鯤, be mindful of its literary tone; it's not commonly used in everyday conversation. A common mistake is to confuse it with other fish-related terms like 鱼 (yú), which is more general. Remember that 鯤 specifically refers to a mythical fish, while 魚 refers to fish in general.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鯤 with 鱼 (yú), mistakenly using it in casual conversations about fish. For example, saying '我喜欢鯤' (I like kūn) instead of '我喜欢鱼' (I like fish) is incorrect.

Write 鯤

鯤

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 鯤

Words Containing This Character1
鲲kūnfry (newly hatched fish)鯤
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 鲲 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鯤

While 鯤 can mean 'spawn' or 'roe,' it is primarily used in literary contexts rather than in everyday conversation.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 鯤?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.