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鱉 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鱉biēturtlex, 22 strokes, radical 魚
biē(bie1)bie T1
  1. 1turtle
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March 24, 2026

鱉biē(bie1)

The character 鱉 (biē) refers to a turtle, specifically a type of freshwater turtle commonly found in East Asia. It is often used in culinary contexts, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, where turtle meat is valued for its health benefits.

Strokes22Radical魚
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese culture, turtles are often associated with longevity and wisdom. They are frequently featured in folklore and are considered a symbol of stability and endurance.

Memory tip

Imagine a turtle (鱉) with its hard shell resembling a protective armor. The character has a fish radical (魚) at the bottom, hinting at its aquatic nature, and the upper part can remind you of a turtle's head peeking out of the water.

Meanings of 鱉

biē(bie1)
1turtle
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鱉

鱉Simplified
22Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鱉

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Podcast: 鱉

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AI study notes for 鱉

Usage Notes

This word is relatively formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious when discussing food as this term may evoke strong cultural sentiments. Common collocations include 鱉肉 (turtle meat) and 鱉汤 (turtle soup).

HSK Study Tips

Although 鱉 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it can be useful for learners interested in culinary terms or traditional medicine. Students should focus on recognizing similar characters that involve animals or aquatic life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鱉 (biē) with 龟 (guī), leading to incorrect usage when referring to different types of turtles. Remember, 鱉 is specifically for softer-shelled turtles, while 龟 is for tortoises.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鱉

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Etymology of 鱉

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

Phonosemantic compound. 鱼 represents the meaning and 敝 represents the sound. Simplified form of 鱉.

Memory hint

fish

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

Origin

鱉 = 魚 + 敝. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鱉

IDS Structure⿱敝魚
鱉Full character
=
敝bi4
top
魚yu2
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鱉?

How to say turtle in Chinese

“turtle” in Chinese is鱉biē

The character 鱉 (biē) refers to a turtle, specifically a type of freshwater turtle commonly found in East Asia. It is often used in culinary contexts, particularly in traditional Chinese medicine and cuisine, where turtle meat is valued for its health benefits.

When to use 鱉

This word is relatively formal and may not be commonly used in everyday conversation. Be cautious when discussing food as this term may evoke strong cultural sentiments. Common collocations include 鱉肉 (turtle meat) and 鱉汤 (turtle soup).

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鱉 (biē) with 龟 (guī), leading to incorrect usage when referring to different types of turtles. Remember, 鱉 is specifically for softer-shelled turtles, while 龟 is for tortoises.

Write 鱉

鱉

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

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Cultural Notes for 鱉

🌏Cross-cultural Insight

While turtles are also regarded as symbols of longevity in Western cultures, they are less commonly associated with culinary practices compared to their significance in Chinese cuisine.

Word Family of 鱉

Words containing this character5
鳖biēfreshwater soft-shelled turtle鱉
瓮中之鳖wèngzhōngzhībiēlit. like a turtle in a jar甕中之鱉
土鳖tǔbiēground beetle土鱉
瓮中捉鳖wèngzhōngzhuōbiēa turkey shoot甕中捉鱉
地鳖dìbiēChinese ground beetle (Eupolyphaga sinensis), used in TCM地鱉
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 鱉

What does 鳖 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鱉

It is pronounced as 'biē' with a high level tone.

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