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鰣 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鰣shíReeves' shad; hilsa herringx, 21 strokes, radical 魚
shí(shi2) T2
  1. 1Reeves' shad; hilsa herring
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

鰣shí(shi2)

The character 鰣 (shí) refers to a specific type of fish known as Reeves' shad or hilsa herring. It is commonly found in rivers and is appreciated for its taste in various cuisines, particularly in East Asian regions. This character is not frequently used in everyday conversation but may appear in culinary contexts or discussions about aquatic life.

Strokes21Radical魚
Cultural Note

In Chinese cuisine, fish is a symbol of abundance and prosperity, particularly during festivals. 鰣 is appreciated not just for its flavor but also as part of culinary traditions that emphasize fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Memory Tip

Imagine a chef, wearing a hat shaped like the character 鰣, skillfully preparing a dish with Reeves' shad. The flowing lines of the character resemble the waves of the river where this fish swims, making it memorable that 鰣 is linked to aquatic delicacies.

Meanings of 鰣

shí(shi2)
1Reeves' shad; hilsa herring
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 鰣

鰣Simplified
21Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鰣

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Podcast: 鰣

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AI Study Notes for 鰣

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the pronunciation of shí, as it may be confused with other similar-sounding words in Mandarin. The usage is quite specialized, so it's typically found in culinary texts or discussions among fish enthusiasts rather than in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

While 鰣 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, learners at higher levels should focus on recognizing specialized vocabulary related to food and nature. Connecting this word with other aquatic-related terms may help expand your vocabulary in this thematic area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鰣 with other fish characters, such as 鱼 (yú), which means 'fish' in general. Always remember that 鰣 specifically refers to Reeves' shad and is not interchangeable with more general terms for fish.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鰣

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Etymology of 鰣

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

fish

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 鰣

  1. 1The meaning half魚 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half時 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 鰣? 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 鰣?

Decomposition of 鰣

IDS Structure⿰魚時
鰣Full Character
=
魚yu2
left
時shi2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 鰣?

How to say Reeves' shad; hilsa herring in Chinese

“Reeves' shad; hilsa herring” in Chinese is鰣shí

The character 鰣 (shí) refers to a specific type of fish known as Reeves' shad or hilsa herring. It is commonly found in rivers and is appreciated for its taste in various cuisines, particularly in East Asian regions. This character is not frequently used in everyday conversation but may appear in culinary contexts or discussions about aquatic life.

When to use 鰣

Be cautious with the pronunciation of shí, as it may be confused with other similar-sounding words in Mandarin. The usage is quite specialized, so it's typically found in culinary texts or discussions among fish enthusiasts rather than in casual conversation.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鰣 with other fish characters, such as 鱼 (yú), which means 'fish' in general. Always remember that 鰣 specifically refers to Reeves' shad and is not interchangeable with more general terms for fish.

Write 鰣

鰣

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

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Word Family of 鰣

Words Containing This Character2
鲥鱼Reeves shad (Tenualosa reevesii)鰣魚
鲥shíshad鰣
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 鲥鱼 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 鰣

It is commonly used in dishes that highlight the delicate flavor of Reeves' shad, often prepared steamed or grilled.

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