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鱧 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
鱧lǐsnakeheadx, 24 strokes, radical 魚
lǐ(li3)li T3
  1. 1snakehead
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March 24, 2026

鱧lǐ(li3)

The character 鱧 (lǐ) refers to a type of fish known as the snakehead, which is recognized for its elongated body and ability to survive out of water for some time. Commonly found in freshwater environments, snakehead fish are often used in traditional Chinese cuisine. The term is particularly relevant in discussions about regional specialties or fish farming.

Strokes24Radical魚
Cultural note

In some regions of China, snakehead fish are considered a delicacy and are often featured in special dishes, especially during festivals or family gatherings. This reflects the importance of fresh water fish in Chinese culinary traditions.

Memory tip

Imagine a snake (for 'snakehead') with a long neck, swimming through water. The radical 魚 (fish) is a clue to its meaning, while the 'lǐ' pronunciation can remind you of 'lee,' a sound that flows like water, which is where you might find this fish.

Meanings of 鱧

lǐ(li3)
1snakehead
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 鱧

鱧Simplified
24Strokes
魚Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 鱧

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Podcast: 鱧

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AI study notes for 鱧

Usage Notes

Be cautious with the tone; 'lǐ' has a falling-rising tone that might get confused with other similar-sounding words. It is often used in culinary contexts, so knowing common phrases related to cooking or ordering fish can be very helpful. A common collocation is 鱧鱼 (lǐ yú), meaning 'snakehead fish'.

HSK Study Tips

While 鱧 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it connects to basic HSK Level 2 words related to food and animals. Focus on understanding fish-related vocabulary, as it can enhance your conversational skills, especially in markets or restaurants.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mispronounce the tone, saying 'li' instead of 'lǐ', which can lead to confusion with other words. Additionally, some might incorrectly assume it's a saltwater fish, but it primarily inhabits freshwater environments.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 鱧

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Etymology of 鱧

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

fish

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

Origin

鱧 = 魚 + 豊. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 鱧

IDS Structure⿰魚豊
鱧Full character
=
魚yu2
left
豊feng1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 鱧?

How to say snakehead in Chinese

“snakehead” in Chinese is鱧lǐ

The character 鱧 (lǐ) refers to a type of fish known as the snakehead, which is recognized for its elongated body and ability to survive out of water for some time. Commonly found in freshwater environments, snakehead fish are often used in traditional Chinese cuisine. The term is particularly relevant in discussions about regional specialties or fish farming.

When to use 鱧

Be cautious with the tone; 'lǐ' has a falling-rising tone that might get confused with other similar-sounding words. It is often used in culinary contexts, so knowing common phrases related to cooking or ordering fish can be very helpful. A common collocation is 鱧鱼 (lǐ yú), meaning 'snakehead fish'.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mispronounce the tone, saying 'li' instead of 'lǐ', which can lead to confusion with other words. Additionally, some might incorrectly assume it's a saltwater fish, but it primarily inhabits freshwater environments.

Write 鱧

鱧

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

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Word Family of 鱧

Words containing this character2
乌鳢Channa argus烏鱧
鳢lǐsnakefish鱧
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 鱧

What does 乌鳢 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 鱧

Snakehead fish is often used in traditional Chinese dishes, especially in soups and stir-fries.

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