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鱗 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鱗línfish scaleszg, 23 strokes, radical 魚
lín(lin2)lin T2
  1. 1fish scales
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March 24, 2026

鱗lín(lin2)

The character 鱗 (lín) refers specifically to fish scales, which are the protective outer covering of many fish species. It is commonly used in contexts related to marine biology, fishing, and culinary terms, particularly when discussing fish preparation or characteristics.

Strokes23Radical魚
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, fish is often associated with prosperity and abundance, especially during the New Year celebrations. The term 鱗 can remind one of the importance of fish in traditional dishes, such as '魚' (yú), which sounds like 'surplus' in Chinese, symbolizing wealth.

Memory tip

Imagine a fish swimming gracefully in water, its scales shimmering like tiny mirrors. The character 鱗 has a radical that resembles the waves of the sea (the left part) and the scales themselves (the right part), reminding you of the beautiful patterns on a fish's body. The pronunciation 'lín' sounds like 'lean,' as in a lean fish with shiny scales.

Meanings of 鱗

lín(lin2)
1fish scales
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鱗

鱗Simplified
23Strokes
魚Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鱗

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Podcast: 鱗

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AI study notes for 鱗

Quick Contrast

鱗 (lín, fish scales) vs 甲 (jiǎ, shell) — choose 鱗 for fish-related contexts, while 甲 refers to shells of crustaceans or insects.

Usage Notes

Be mindful that 鱗 is a somewhat formal term, primarily used in writing or scientific contexts rather than in casual conversation. It often collocates with words like '魚' (fish), as in '魚鱗' (fish scales), and can be confused with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to tone, as it is pronounced with the second tone (lín).

HSK Study Tips

While 鱗 is not part of the HSK vocabulary list, it connects to other aquatic-related terms you might encounter as you progress. Focus on memorizing related words such as 魚 (fish) and 海 (sea), which will enhance your vocabulary in this thematic area.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 鱗 with 鳞, which is a variant character with the same meaning; however, 鳞 is more commonly used in modern contexts. Remember to use the correct character based on your reading or writing needs.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鱗

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Etymology of 鱗

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

fish

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

Origin

鱗 = 魚 + 粦. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鱗

IDS Structure⿰魚粦
鱗Full character
=
魚yu2
left
粦lin2
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鱗?

How to say fish scales in Chinese

“fish scales” in Chinese is鱗lín

The character 鱗 (lín) refers specifically to fish scales, which are the protective outer covering of many fish species. It is commonly used in contexts related to marine biology, fishing, and culinary terms, particularly when discussing fish preparation or characteristics.

When to use 鱗

Be mindful that 鱗 is a somewhat formal term, primarily used in writing or scientific contexts rather than in casual conversation. It often collocates with words like '魚' (fish), as in '魚鱗' (fish scales), and can be confused with similar-sounding words, so pay attention to tone, as it is pronounced with the second tone (lín).

鱗 or something close to it

鱗 (lín, fish scales) vs 甲 (jiǎ, shell) — choose 鱗 for fish-related contexts, while 甲 refers to shells of crustaceans or insects.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 鱗 with 鳞, which is a variant character with the same meaning; however, 鳞 is more commonly used in modern contexts. Remember to use the correct character based on your reading or writing needs.

Write 鱗

鱗

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

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Word Family of 鱗

Words containing this character12
鳞línscales (of fish)鱗
遍体鳞伤beaten black and blue遍體鱗傷
鳞片scale鱗片
鱼鳞fish scales魚鱗
鳞次栉比row upon row鱗次櫛比
鳞状细胞癌squamous cell carcinoma鱗狀細胞癌
鳞甲scale鱗甲
鳞茎bulb鱗莖
鳞翅目Lepidoptera (insect order including butterflies 蝶類|蝶类 and moths 蛾類|蛾类)鱗翅目
一鳞半爪lit. one scale and half a claw (idiom); only odd bits and pieces一鱗半爪
鳞伤terribly cut up鱗傷
东鳞西爪odds and ends (idiom)東鱗西爪
Exercise 1 of 4

Characters with 鱗

What does 鳞 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鱗

It is pronounced 'lín' with a rising tone.

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